The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority Member Secretary Rajesh Lakhoni and Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner D. Karthikeyan to explain by January 17 the action taken by them on two alleged unauthorised buildings constructed at T. Nagar here.
A Division Bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and P. Rajamanickam called for the explanation on a contempt of court petition filed against the officials by Pondy Bazar Residents Welfare Association represented by its president U. Kannan. The petitioner had accused the officials of wilfully disobeying court orders. The petitioner association said that it had initially filed a writ petition early this year seeking a direction to the two officials to take legal action against a duo who had reportedly constructed a building in deviation of the sanctioned plan at Sivagnanam Road in T. Nagar. The court disposed of the petition on April 3 with a direction to the officials to inspect the building within two weeks and initiate action within six weeks thereafter. However, no action was taken against the violators, the association alleged and sought to punish the officials for contempt of court.