HC dismisses appeals by Kodanadu panchayat

Chennai, Feb 3 (PTI) The Madras High Court todaydismissed two applications seeking to restrain Kodanaduestate, used by AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa as a retreat, fromproceeding with construction on a piece of land and to permitpanchayat officials from inspecting the ongoing work.

The applications were filed by the Kodanadu panchayatofficials challenging a single judge''s order setting aside anApril 2007 notification directing the estate to producerelevant documents pertaining to constructions.

The panchayat had issued the notice contending thatthere were unauthorised constructions and followed it up withanother notice on June 2007 warning that action will beinitiated under the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Building Rules.

The estate had challegened the notifications and asingle judge allowed the petition.

In its counter to the present applications, the estatemanagement submitted the subject property in the writ appealand the present applications were totally different and assuch the panchayat had not made out a case for granting therelief sought by it.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Raoand K K Sasidharan pointed out that as "the prayers now madein the applications were in respect of another survey number,no further scanning was necessary to conclude that the prayersought in the applications was beyond the scope of the writappeal" and dismissed the applications.