: Dissatisfied over the stand of the Corporation and Panchayat authorities over a land grab issue in a posh area on the outskirts of the city, worth crores of Rupees, Madras High Court has directed the Director of Vigilance and Anti Corruption Department to conduct an enquiry and submit a report within two months to it.
The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T.S.Sivagnanam before whom the PIL filed by A Kanagasabapathy,Secretary,Raja Nagar Welfare Association,came up, had earlier ordered the Corporation to enquire and file an affidavit before it on the charge that the 16985 square foot land,earmarked as Open Space Reservation,for a Primary school.
When the Corporation submitted that permission for constructing housing plots was granted by only Saint Thomas Mount Panchayat Union at Chittlapakkam and not by it and the relevant records were also not available, the bench directed DVAC to hold an enquiry and submit a report within two months
It also directed all Departments to cooperate.
The matter relates to an area developed at Neelangarai comprising 81 Plots on 10 acres, an approved lay-out. Even prior to its sale to promoters, Neelankarai panchayat had sanctioned it.An approval from the Director of Town planning was obtained and 10 per cent of the land was earmarked as OSR.
The petitioner, one K Soundarajan who claimed the land as his own, has settled 10985 Sq. Ft. In favour of his wife and daughters and later settled the property through his wife to his daughter and son-in-law.
He submitted that as per the encumbrance certificate out of 16985 sq.Ft. Earmarked as OSR only 6000 Sq.Ft was reflected as sold to one Purushothaman. He also alleged nowhere in the certificate was the title of the property, from whom it was purchased and who sold the same, mentioned.
He said all these were brought to the notice of the Corporation and through a representation to Chief Minister.
He said when his son tried to place some machinery in the area, a complaint was lodged before the Jurisdictional Police and Corporation Officials had also erected a board mentioning that the place belongs to Chennai Corporation.
The Secretary submitted that Soundarajan with an ulterior motive filed a suit against his accomplice stating as a trespasser also got some injunction in a civil /court as if he is the owner of the said Property which is earmarked as OSR.
Hence Kanagasabathy moved court seeking a direction from to the Commissioner, Corporation of Chennai to take action against these persons indulged in grabbing.
