Corporation told to act on illegal structures

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Chennai Corporation Commissioner (CCC) to initiate criminal proceedings against MR Badrinarayana, a chartered accountant and a tenant, for putting up an unauthorised construction on the open reserve space (ORS) in Santhi Colony in Anna Nagar. ‘’Taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances, we direct the CCC to initiate suitable criminal proceedings against the petitioner for lowering the dignity of their office in the eye of the public, besides proceeding with the present legal proceedings already initiated against him,’’ a division bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and N Kirubakaran said on Tuesday. The bench was passing interim orders on a writ petition from Badrinarayana praying for a direction to the authorities concerned to restore possession removing the lock and seal on the flat in Santhi Colony.According to Badrinarayana, LN Ramasamy of Mogappair East leased out his 850 sq ft  flat to him on monthly rent. The landlord also permitted him to put up additional construction in the open space available around the flat and agreed to reimburse the construction cost of ` 25 lakh to him in 2005. However, following difference of opinion, Ramaswamy initiated eviction proceedings. The petitioner alleged that, at the instigation of the landlord, the Corporation issued demolition notice to him. On February 20 this year, the corporation officials locked and sealed the premises while such constructions made by other flat owners on the ORS were spared.