HC directs Housing Secy to be impleaded as respondent to PIL

The Madras High Court today directed that the Tamil Nadu Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department be impleaded as respondent in a PIL filed in connection with the recent textile showroom fire in the city.
The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar gave the direction on the PIL filed by social activist 'Traffic' Ramaswamy.
It also directed the High Court Registry to consolidate all the writ petitions related to the petition and list the matter on July 10.
The bench further directed it to place before it, the records pertaining to two PILs filed by B Kannan, Secretary of T. Nagar Residents Welfare Association, which were disposed of by the court on February 20.

The petitioner had alleged that failure on part of the officials concerned to take action against unauthorised constructions resulted in the fire accident in the multi-storied building of Chennai Silks textile showroom in T. Nagar here on May 31.
The petitioner also sought a direction from the court to take necessary action against the violators, particularly Sri Kumaran Jewellery, Chennai Silks and others.
Besides, he sought the transfer of the Housing and Urban Development Secretary.
The bench issued notice to government pleader MK Subramanian representing the government and posted the matter for further hearing to July 10.