MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed the Tiruchi Collector to enquire into the alleged sale of 200 acres of forest land in Ponnusangampatti under Thuraiyur taluk through bogus sale deeds.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Prafulla Kumar Misra said that the Collector’s enquiry report should be submitted before the court within four weeks. The Judges also directed the Special Government Pleader to take notice on behalf of the Forest department and adjourned the matter to October 29. The petitioner, M. Baskaran of Woraiyur in Tiruchi, claimed that he was an editor of a Tamil monthly, ‘Urimai Muzhakkam.’ It was brought to his notice that 200 acres out of 3000 acres of forest land in Ponnusangampatti was sold to a Howrah-based businessman through his power agent.
The transaction was carried out by way of 10 sale deeds, executed by various persons, which were registered on August 3, last year. Assistant editor of the monthly M.P. Subramaniam ascertained from the Thuraiyur Tahsildar and other officials that the land was illegally sold. The entire transaction was carried out “to defraud the Government,” the petitioner alleged.
The matter was reported in the August issue of the monthly. Besides, representations were sent to the District Forest Officer but there was no action and hence the writ petition.
The petitioner sought a direction to the Government and the District Forest Officer to initiate necessary action against the perpetrators.
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