The Hindu : New Delhi News : Court orders status quo on demolition of 44 houses

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Court orders status quo on demolition of 44 houses

J. Venkatesan

They were constructed for tsunami victims in north Poigainallur in Nagapattinam

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered status quo on the Madras High Court order to demolish 44 houses constructed for tsunami victims at Uzhavar Nagar in north Poigainallur in Nagapattinam.

A three-Judge Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice Markandey Katju ordered status quo till March 3 when counsel Anand Padmanabhan mentioned about the filing of special leave petitions by Salvation Agency, the builder, and one of the occupants.

In their SLPs, the petitioners submitted that acting on a petition from A. Subbian that the houses were of sub-standard construction, the High Court, in its judgment on January 10, ordered the demolition.

No opportunity was given to them before the direction was issued.

They pointed out that authorities had inspected the houses and issued occupancy certificates much before the filing of the petition in the High Court.

The builder said as a non governmental agency it had constructed the houses in good faith.

Construction defects, if any, would be rectified.

They termed the Collector’s report recommending demolition one-sided. Irreparable damage would be caused if the High Court direction were carried out, they said, and sought quashing of the impugned judgment and interim stay of its operation.

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