HC notice to DMK MLA, SIDCO over encroachment complaint

The Madras High Court has issued a notice to DMK MLA and former city Mayor M Subramanian on a petition alleging that a property mentioned by him among his wife's assets in his election affidavit belonged to the government and that it had been encroached by them.

A division bench comprising Justices M Sathyanarayanan and P Rajamanickam ordered issue of notice, returnable by June 29, to Subramanian and also to the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO), the owner of the property.

It was hearing a public interest litigation filed by S S Parthiban seeking a direction to authorities to evict the MLA and his wife from the tenement in the Labour Colony at Guindy here.

The petitioner, who had contested as an Independent against Subramanian in the 2016 assembly election, submitted that Subramanian in his election affidavit had stated that the property belonged to his wife Kanchana.

Alleging that the information was false, he claimed the property was allotted to S K Kannan by the Industries and Commerce Department on February 14, 1959. Kannan had died in 2015, leaving behind six daughters and one son.

He alleged that Subramanian, using his political influence, had encroached the property by fabricating documents and in collusion with SIDCO officials.

Later, he had demolished it and built a new house which was declared by him in his election affidavit, the petitioner said.

He claimed the Public Information Officer of SIDCO, in reply to his RTI query, had stated on June 28, 2016 that neither the legal heirs of Kannan nor any of his representatives were in possession of the property.

Despite his April 12 last representation to SIDCO officials seeking the eviction of Subramanian and his wife, no action had been taken. Hence, he has approached the court.

The bench in its brief interim order said, "In the light of the communication given by the Public Information Officer of SIDCO, notice (issued) to the respondents through court as well as privately returnable on June 29."