'Proposed flea market by govt will be in an unutilized place'

The Madras High Court today disposed of a PIL seeking a direction to the Corporation of Chennai to restrain it from setting up a flea market in Corporation playgrounds and public parks owned by it.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M.Sathyanarayanan, which disposed of the PIL filed by an advocate A P Suryaprakasam, recorded the submission of the Corporation that if a decision was taken to set up flea markets, it shall be in an unutilized space and that too after following procedures prescribed under relevant acts and rules, coupled with judicial pronouncements of the Supreme Court.

The petitoner alleged Tamil Nadu government was in the process of setting up flea markets in Corporation playgrounds and public parks owned by the Corporation of Chennai.
He further submitted that such commercial activities should be prevented as playgrounds and public parks are meant for poor children and environmental purposes. These should not be allowed to be utilised for purposes other than that they are meant for, he said.
While disposing of the petition, the bench also recorded the Corporation's undertaking that due publicity would be given for inviting objections from the public, if any, to such proposal, which in turn will be dealt with as per law.