Demolition of memorial: HC orders issue of notice to officials

The Madras High court today ordered issue of notice to officials on an application seeking to restore demolished compound wall and park at the Mullivaaikal Memorial in Tanjavur.
Days after its inauguration, officials had last month demolished the compound wall and removed a park at the Memorial, built in honour of Tamil martyrs in the war in Sri Lanka, alleging that these were constructed on encroached highway land.
In his petition, Ulagath Thamizhar Peramaippu Trust Chairman P Nedumran also sought to take action against the officials who demolished the compound wall "without following due process of Law."
He also sought an interim injunction restraining the officials from in any way preventing or obstructing the ingress and egress of the Trust members and the general public into the memorial site at Villar village.

Justice R Sudhakar and Justice S Vaidhyanathan ordered notice to the officials, including Thanjavur District Collector, Superintendent of Police, Divisional Engineers, Highways Department and President of the Villar panchayat.
Nedumaran submitted the memorial was constructed with the permission of the government. The Highways Department also gave permission for putting up a park in its land and it was inaugurated on November 8.
However, on November 13 the Highways Department demolished the compound wall and fenced the entire memorial area preventing the public from entering the site.
The officials failed to issue statutory notice to the Trust before the demolition and it was violation of natural justice, Nedumaran contended.