Commissioner Rajesh Lakh-oni had to appear in court on Monday to defend the civic body. A division bench of Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Justice N Paul Vasantha Kumar had asked the commissioner to appear in court on a petition filed by the Kaviyarasu Kannadasan Nagar Citizens Welfare Association, which wanted the officials to remove garbage at Kodungaiyur.

The association arrayed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Chennai Corporation, superintending engineer of Solid Waste Managements as respondents.

During the last hearing the bench was informed by the advocate-general that officials were taking steps to prevent entry of rag-pickers and burning of garbage.

The bench had asked the police commissioner to take necessary action and pass orders in three days. On Monday, Lakhoni told the bench that steps were taken to comply with the earlier order of the court, and the civic body had put in place certain structures to regulate entry of people. The bench asked him to file an affidavit on the matter.