HC raps officials over encroachments; warns of contempt action

Taking a serious view of recurring encroachments in Villupuram town, Madras High Court has directed authorities to take photographs for the next 15 days to show that the area was free of such illegal occupation and warned of contempt action in case of re-encroachments.
Giving the direction on a PIL filed by local chapter of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, first Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan yesterday ordered officials to file a compliance report within three weeks.
The bench wondered how the re-encroachments were possible unless the concerned authorities -- administration and police -- look the other way.

"If any re-encroachment is found, the senior-most supervising officer responsible in the area will have to face the pain of contempt," it said.
The court directed officials, including the District Collector of Villupuram, about 160 km from here, to keep areas in question in the petition encroachment-free and if re-encroachment was permitted it would attract contempt.
Naming several main roads, the petitioner submitted that these were encroached and inspite of repeated requests and representations made to authorities no action was taken.

Taking exception to the inordinate delay in the response of authorities, the court during one of the previous hearings had questioned whether one year time was not sufficient to the District Collector to file his affidavit and directed him to appear before it.

When the matter came up yesterday, the interim order was passed by the bench which expressed the view that it was the inaction on part of authorities that led to re-encroachments.
"If that is the position, then certain departmental action is required against officers responsible for ensuring that not only encroachments are removed but re-encroachment does not take place," the bench said.
The petition was posted to September 19 for further hearing.