The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Kodanadu estate: PIL petition dismissed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Kodanadu estate: PIL petition dismissed

Special Correspondent

Notice issued to management, State Government informs High Court

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Government informed the Madras High Court on Tuesday that a notice had been issued to the Kodanadu Tea Estate management with regard to unauthorised construction on the estate, and that it was contemplating further action.

Recording the statement of Additional Advocate-General P.S. Raman, the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice P. Jyothimani, disposed of a public interest litigation petition filed by the Kothagiri Panchayat Union chairman. The petitioner, K.M. Raju, had sought a direction to the authorities to demolish the unauthorised building and disconnect water and power supply.

Trees felled

Earlier, Mr. Raman submitted that in the course of the construction of the building, the estate management felled over 2,000 silver oak trees.

In March 2006, an application was made to the authorities seeking permission to fell 8,000 trees on the estate.

A committee headed by the District Collector gave permission to cut 2,000 trees.

He reiterated that the State Government had nothing to do with the public interest litigation petition filed on behalf of Mr. Raju.

"The Government is not, in any manner, connected with the petition, notwithstanding the petitioner or his counsel."

`Jungle stream blocked'

Additional Solicitor-General V.T. Gopalan told the court that the estate owners had blocked a jungle stream to create an artificial lake.

N. Jothi, counsel for the respondents, said the State authorities had no jurisdiction in the matter. They were attempting to usurp the powers of the panchayat.

Their action was illegal and contrary to law.

The Judges said, "We are not inclined to entertain the petition. The issue as to whether the action of the authorities is legal or not is pending consideration before the single Judge, who will deal with this issue in an appropriate manner. No opinion need be expressed by this court in this petition."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu