The Madras High Court has criticised state government authorities for not looking into a plea demanding that building construction be not permitted in a playground and directed officials to dispose of the representation expeditiously.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice TS Sivagnanam, said a representation by petitioners was not considered by authorities in Salem.
One S Natarajan and C Shankar, besides three others were the petitioners.
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"The representation of the petitioners has met the usual fate of there being no response. This is something we have been repeatedly commenting about," the Chief Justice said in the order recently.
The petitioners had requested that a building construction for taluk panchayat office be not permitted at the 9.88 acre playground at Bodinaickenpatti in Salem.This was to enable students, children and adults to freely use the playground without any restrictions.
Initially, petitioners approached the High Court. However, it was withdrawn as it was filed without making a representation to the authorities.
Representations to the District Collector Salem, besides others were sent later by petitioners.
"Reminder was (also) sent, but even this did not wake up the authorities," the court said in its order.
Later, petitioners filed a writ plea and disposing of it, the court said that representation of the petitioners should be disposed of "as expeditiously as possible."
"All construction activities will be stopped forthwith," it said. Cautioning officials, the court said even if construction was made there, the loss suffered due to it may be recovered from "the officer concerned who failed to act on the representation despite an earlier court direction.
