HC orders status quo on forcible eviction

The Madras High Court today ordered status quo on the alleged forcible eviction of the residents of Konnur High Road Slum, at Otteri here till Monday.
Justice V Ramasubramanin also ordered issue of notice to Special Government Pleader Sanjay Gandhi, who is appearing for the Departments of Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, The District Collector, Chennai, The Inspector of Police, Otteri and N Arul Mozhi for Chennai Corporation and posted the matter for further hearing to Monday, on a petition filed by 60 residents.
In their petition the residents who are mostly submitted that the Konnur High Road Slum is declared slum under Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Slum Areas (improvement and clearance) Act 1971.

They submitted that they are residing there for the past 65 years and all of them were issued ration cards, voter identity cards and are provided with electricity service connections.
They alleged that the Corporation officials with the help of Police took photographs and got thumb impression of all the people and on November 11 the authorities with police personnel came to their place and attempted to evict them forcibly without any prior notice.
They alleged that the action of the authorities is arbitrary, illegal, violative of Principal of Natural Justice and fundamental right as no statutory notice was served on them before taking action.