HC directive on shifting of iron & steel market

Noting that its 2009 orders to shift the iron and steel market from George Town area here had not been implemented till now, the Madras High Court today warned of contempt proceedings against the authorities concerned and directed them to file a status report in two weeks.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. Sathyanarayanan, directed the city Corporation Commissioner to file the status report.
"Prima facie, there appears to be a violation of orders of the Court, which would require contempt proceedings be initiated. However, before embarking on the said course of action, we would like to have the status report filed by the Commissioner, Corporation of Chennai, under his signatures, as considerable time has passed since the date the order was to be implemented," the bench said.

Earlier, the bench warned the Corporation Commissiner, Commissioner of Police, and the District Collector, that any transgression of its April 30, 2009 with regard to shifting of the Iron and Steel Market from Mannady Street would result in initiation of proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act.
The court was passing orders on a petition filed by one S.Ragu of the city who submitted that the court had by its order directed shifting the market on or before June 15, 2009. Even Police protection was extended to the petitioners therein.
Despite this, even till date, there had not been shifting of the market fully and the activities, as per the photographs enclosed, were still continuing.

The petitioner said hundreds of iron shops operating in the area were causing problem to the general public in thickly- populated areas with narrow roads.