The Hindu 11.06.2013
Coimbatore Corporation seals commercial complex
On charge of violating a court order.
The Coimbatore Corporation on Monday sealed a commercial
complex at Hope College Junction on Avinashi Road on the charge that
the promoters had violated a court order.
Based on
instructions from senior authorities, a team lead by Town Planning
Officer A. Varadharajan sealed the building in the morning. But that was
not before an argument with the promoters P. Vasanthi and her
daughter-in-law P. Poonkuzhali over a court order.
Ms. Poonkuzhali, daughter of M.K. Tamilarasu, is the granddaughter of DMK leader M. Karunanidhi
The
couple had argued with the officials that their action would be in
contempt of a Madras High Court order that said that while the promoters
should not go ahead with the construction or bring to use the building,
the Corporation should not demolish the building.
They
had moved the court after the civic body sent a notice in February 2012
asking them to stop the construction forthwith as they had not obtained
the final approval.
Violation
Mr.
Varadharajan had told the promoters that they were forced to take the
action because they had violated the court order by bringing into use
the building by establishing a two-wheeler showroom.
He later told
The Hindu
that while the Court restrained the Corporation from demolishing the
building, it did not say anything about placing the building under lock
and seal.
In this case, the Corporation chose to act
because the promoters had violated the court order that said they should
not bring to use the building.
Once it came to light
that the promoters had violated the court order, the Corporation had
sought the opinion of the Advocate General A.L. Somayaji and only based
on his recommendation did the Corporation go ahead and seal the
building.
But prior to Monday’s action, the
Corporation had issued notice to the promoters giving them sufficient
time to react. But they chose not to do so, Mr. Varadharajan added.
The building had two basements, a ground floor and three more floors.
Reacting
to the Corporation’s action, Ms. Poonkuzhali’s husband P. Premanand
said that a principal district munsif order in the issue had clearly
said that the promoters could enjoy the structure without making any
changes. The order had also prevented the Corporation from acting
against the promoters.
This was in addition to the Madras High Court order.
He
alleged that the when the promoters presented an objection letter in
writing, the Corporation officials refused to take it. They were asked
to fight it legally.