HC orders notice to authorities on PIL

The Madras High Court today ordered issuance of notice to the Director of Town Planning and Member Secretary, Local Planning Authority (LPA), on a PIL seeking direction for probe into construction of a multi-storeyed building here, allegedly without proper approval.
The petitioner, R Nagarajan, alleged that the Tamil Nadu Housing Board had constructed a multi-storied building, with 104 flats, without getting approval of the Director of Town and country Planning and Member Secretary, LPA, at Madakulam here.
He sought a direction to order an investigation into the matter.
A division bench of Justice M Jaichandran and Justice R Mahadevan of the Madurai bench ordered issuance of notice to the Director of Town Planning and Member-Secretary, LPA, returnable within two weeks.

The petitioner said after the Moulivakkam multi-storied tragedy near Chennai, Director of Town and Country planning had said if any building for which plan approval was not obtained from the competent authority, immediate investigation has to be conducted ascertaining whether quality materials were used and standard procedures followed while constructing the building.
When he approached the Director and LPA Member-Secretary, they said no approval had been given to multi-storied buildings constructed by a government organisation - namely Tamil Nadu Housing Board at Madakulam.
He alleged that the Member-Secretary did not initiate a probe despite his representation and hence he filed the PIL.