A Madras High Court bench, comprising justice S Vaidyanathan and justice R Subramanian, made it clear that illegal constructions without set-backs shall not be regularised and if such acts were carried out by any officials, they should be taken into task and posted in non-sensitive post. The court gave the direction in a recent order on two petitions, challenging notices issued by the city corporation for lock-and-seal and de-occupation of a house and demolition of another, for alleged plan violation with regards to building set-back norms.
See also: No regularisation of unauthorised buildings without its permission, says Madras HC
The bench allowed the petition by Kalyani and S Srinivasan of Madhavaram area and quashed the lock-and-seal and de-occupation notices, dated July 25 and September 13 last, respectively, on the grounds that they had been issued based on the plan of some other person. This would not preclude the authorities from issuing fresh notice to the petitioners, if the petitioners had violated the plan and proceed further, it added.
Passing orders on the other petition by one Hari of Choolaimedu, whose house was sought to be demolished for set-back violation, the bench directed officials of the corporation and Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB), to carry out an inspection of buildings in Plot Nos 1 to 5 in the area. The direction was given after the court found from records that even the building belonging to the complainant (against the petitioner) was also in violation of the plan. The corporation’s counsel conceded that if the buildings in the area were constructed in violation of the plan and without any set-back, proper steps would be taken for their demolition. The court directed that if during the inspection, it was found that any building had been constructed in violation of the sanctioned plan, suitable action shall be taken against the violators, irrespective of the fact as to whether any complaint had been lodged or not. Till the inspection was completed, the petitioner’s house shall not be demolished, it added.
