HC flays police on encroachment issue

The Madras High Court has flayed police for not preventing re-encroachments by hawkers between Flower Bazaar Police Station to Parry's corner and directed the Additional Commissioner of Police-Traffic, Chennai, to depute a fresh set of officers in the area.
The court was passing interim orders on a PIL filed by one Raghu.
"We are now unequivocally of the view that these encroachments are occurring with the blessings of police authorities and are thus of the view that the persons manning the site are unfit to maintain the position as site free from encroachment," the court said.
"We call upon the Additional Commissioner-Traffic to depute a fresh set of officers from today onwards itself, which would be able to control the position making them liable in case of any such encroachments are found again. The Zonal officer of the Corporation of Chennai will render full assistance to the Police authorities and will be a part of the team," it said.

When the matter came up yesterday, the Bench directed the Registrar Administration of the High Court to go to the area or authorise somebody "unannounced" so that the court can get a true picture about the encroachments.
The bench then posted the matter for further hearing to November 14.
The PIL sought a direction to close down restaurants till provisions of Multi-storied and Public Buildings Rule 1974, Madras City Police Act 1888 and the Tamil Nadu Fire Services Rule 1990 in the matter of parking space, open space, lung space and fire safety are strictly complied with.