CHENNAI: A scheme to implement court orders on unauthorised constructions in Chennai and the demolition of such buildings would be finalised by two sub-committees to be formed shortly, the Madras High Court was informed on Thursday.

When a public interest litigation seeking to demolish unauthorised structures without any further notice came up for hearing before the First Bench, counsel for the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) said the court-appointed Monitoring Committee had its first meeting on Wednesday and decided to appoint two sub-committees.

On his part, counsel for the Chennai Corporation told the Bench, comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice K. Chandru, that the civic body would immediately move the City Civil Court and vacate the interim orders granted by the court. The Bench then posted the matter to January 29 for further proceedings. It also asked the Vice-Chairman of the Monitoring Committee to file a status report in court before the next hearing date.

In the present petition, B.L. Jayakandan expressed concern at new demolition notices issued to 27 major commercial establishments, and said the notices dated October 31 were not necessary in view of the fact that the three amendment Acts enacted by the State Government had been declared illegal by the court. All orders regularising deviations in constructions had also been struck down by the court, he added.

In order to escape the demolition process, the State Government had issued the present notices to 27 major violators, and their inherent purpose is to allow the violators to reply and then take up the matter by way of further litigation, he said.

"The CMDA is trying to open a further prolonged litigation, and thereby safeguard the unauthorised building from being demolished," he said, and prayed for the demolition of the buildings without any further notice.

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