The Madras High Court today sought an explanation from the Ramanathapuram District Collector as to why suo motu contempt action could not be taken against him following a complaint that the district administration did not take any step to eradicate Karuvelam (prosopis juliflora) trees.
The court had directed 13 district collectors to remove the trees and report to the court on a PIL filed by MDMK leader Vaiko.It had also sought a report from the collectors regarding the action taken by them on the court order.
When the case came up for hearing before a division bench of the court's Madurai bench, comprising Justices A.Selvam and S.Kalaiarasan, officials submitted that 64 per cent of the seemai karuvelam trees had been removed.
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The private land owners had also been asked to remove the trees and report to the administration.
The court had earlier directed authorities to conduct campaigns on removing the trees
However, there was a report that the Ramanathapuram district collector had not taken any step,the judges said and sought his explanation as to why suo motu contempt action could not be taken against him.
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