HC converts PIL to suo mout proceedings

The Madras High Court today converted a PIL seeking to restore Keelakattalai lake, foreshore and basin areas to its original extent into suo motu proceedings.
The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan converted the PIL filed by one N Raveendran seeking to direct the authorities for repossession of the government lands from illegal occupants and to restore the Keelkattalai lake since the issue relates to water body.
The petitioner referring to reports in some Tamil dailies on the encroachment of about 40 acres of land in and around Kilkattalai lake by an organisation, submitted that the Tahsildar had sent a report on July 15, 2005, to the District Collector, Kancheepuram District, stating that these lands were government lands and but the Revenue officials had illegally issued patta to it 1965.

While referring to the complaints given by one Sathyamurthy to the Inspector of Police, Pallikaranai, in this regard and the representation made by him to the Collector and a similar petition forwarded by him to the Chief Minister said that no reply was received to any of these petitions.
Stating that the water bodies were illegally encroached upon and patta's were illegally granted for the lands the petitioner prayed the court to restore the Keelkattalai lake and its foreshore and basin areas to its original extent and size as shown in Government records and maintain it properly.
The court ordered issue of notice to Government Pleader STS Murthi to file a Status report with site plan of the area within four weeks and posted the matter to September 6 for further hearing.