The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Costs imposed on man for wasting court's time

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Monday, Jun 14, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Costs imposed on man for wasting court's time

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has imposed costs of Rs.10,000 on a person for wasting the time of the court.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and T.S. Sivagnanam said the sum should be paid to the Chief Justice Relief Fund.

In the public interest litigation petition, ‘Traffic' Ramaswamy, a social activist, prayed for a direction to the authorities to shift the fireworks shops from Bunder Street, Badrian Street, Anderson Street, Malayaperumal Street, Umpherson Street and NSC Bose Road in George Town to Island Grounds or any other open ground during the festival season from this year. The Government Pleader submitted that for the same relief, the petitioner had already moved the court in 2005 and obtained orders in 2008. So there was no need to entertain the present petition.

The Bench said on a perusal of the order it was clear that the court had specifically directed the Commissioner of Police to follow the rules and regulations while granting licence for sale and storage of fireworks and crackers. Considering the past incidents, the order also fixed the responsibility on officials to ensure that all safety measures were scrupulously followed. However, without being satisfied with the order, the petitioner had come forward with the petition seeking the same relief.

Mr. Ramaswamy submitted that despite the court orders, the authorities were not following the rules and regulations. They were not implementing the order. The Bench said if the authorities had not complied with the court directions, it was for the petitioner to move contempt proceedings instead of approaching the court with another writ petition.

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