HC stays single Judge's order over contempt plea

Madras High Court today stayed a single judge's order asking Tamil Nadu Government to consider transferring the Chennai District Collector and the Chennai City Police Commisioner on a contempt petition.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M.M. Sundresh stayed the March 10 order of Justice C S Karnan till July 2 on an appeal by a construction firm.
Appellant Udayakumar, Managing Director of Landmark Housing Projects Pvt Limited, submitted that the single judge did not hear the company before passing the impugned order.
Justice Karnan had passed the order on the contempt petition by an employee of defunct B and C Mills at Perambur here which contended that the two officials had failed to 'obey' an earlier order of the court asking them to give protection to the workers who were living in quarters built on "Poramboke" land (land owned by government).

Meanwhile, the mill management of Binny Limited entered into an agreement with Landmark Housing for development of the property and a power of attorney was executed in its favour for the same.
It was alleged that the company demolished six houses claiming ownership of the area and efforts were made to vacate the workers, following which the contempt petition was filed by the worker Ilangovan.