Holding that the Anna Centenary Library should be maintained and upgraded in terms of the court's direction, the Madras High Court today directed the state government to implement recommendations of a two-member advocate committee, which had inspected it, in a time-bound manner and submit a compliance report.
The library was built by the previous DMK government at Kotturpuram near here.
"If a state-of-the-art library is made, the duty of the government does not end with creating it but to see that it maintains itself and there is regular upgradation," the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, said.
"The library is required to be maintained and upgraded in terms of our direction," the bench said.
It directed government to submit a compliance report on the implementation of the committee's recommendations on 'Anna' (former chief minister Annadurai) birth anniversary on September 15, 2015 and posted the matter on that date.
On July 27, the court had appointed P T Asha and P Sunder as advocate commissioners to inspect the library and file a report.
A petition had been filed by S.T. Manonmani, a retired professor, seeking a direction to appoint an oversight committee under the chairmanship of a retired High Court judge to ensure that the library functions normally.
Disposing of the petition, the First bench, however, on perusal of the committee's report and the photographs submitted with it, said "..We may note that the problem is not so aggravated as we initially perceived but it is the case of lack of regular maintenance and upgradation, a task not difficult for the government to perform."
"Though finances in such a situation are not a problem for the state, the Commission also suggested very practical methods which can assist in generating revenue for the library itself to be self-sufficient."
"This is possible by giving the facilities of auditorium, conference halls, seminar halls, amphitheatre, etc for the purpose of generating income by giving it for rent. It is sad to see these facilities have been kept closed and one of the reasons for deterioration appears to be the lack of facilities."
The bench said it had no hesitation in directing the authorities "to implement all the recommendations of the two- member advocate committee in a time-bound manner. This could require the government to prepare a schedule for carrying out necessary work and to submit a compliance report to the court from time to time.
