The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “No motive behind action against estate management”

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Friday, Jun 29, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“No motive behind action against estate management”

Special Correspondent

Nilgiris Collector files counter affidavit in response to petitions filed by estate management

CHENNAI: The Nilgiris District Collector has denied that there is any political motive to the district administration’s action against the Kodanadu Tea Estate management, and said the May 31 visit by officials had been “unnecessarily exaggerated” by the owners with a view to impute motives.

In a counter affidavit, filed in response to the petitions filed by the estate management against the notice issued by the district and panchayat authorities, besides a field survey conducted on the estate premises, the Collector said villagers, officials and the panchayat president and others were even prevented from passing through the estate “under the pretext that a former Chief Minister is staying in the estate.” High-handed action of the management resulted in the panchayat and the Government authorities not being able to carry out development works for poor villagers, he said.

“False allegations”

Reiterating that the panchayat and district authorities exercised powers vested with them, the counter said, “it is absolutely false to state that attempts were made by various persons representing the Government to enter the estate unauthorisedly.” He said the petitions had been filed with false allegations and deserved to be dismissed.

A separate counter-affidavit, filed by the Kodanadu village panchayat president, said the panchayat passed a resolution to take action against unauthorised constructions on March 27. The Kodanadu estate management did not submit any document with regard to the ongoing construction on the premises in spite of notices, he said, adding that he was not under any instigation or political obligation to take action against the respondents.

Justice A. Kulasekaran, before whom the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, adjourned the matter to July 12.

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