Urban News

The Hindu      23.12.2010

Plea seeking to quash Chennai Corporation notice dismissed

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed a writ petition seeking to quash a tender notification of the Chennai Corporation dated December 9 this year dividing road laying works in the city under three broad packages. In his order, Justice M. Jaichandren said the petitioners, Paver Finish Road Builders' Association, Chennai, and 11 others, had not been able to substantiate their claim that the classification of the works into major packages had been done in a mala fide manner. There was nothing to show that the notification was arbitrary or illegal.

In the notification, the entire works in the city had been divided into three packages — 84 roads at a cost of Rs.1834 lakh, 79 roads at a cost of Rs.1943 lakh and 103 roads at a cost of Rs.1950 lakh.

The petitioners prayed the court to quash the notification and issue a consequent direction to the authorities to split the works road-wise, division-wise, unit-wise and zone-wise and issue a fresh tender and proceed in accordance with law. The members of the association, who were registered Class-I contractors, were eligible to participate in the tenders, the value of which may even be above Rs.75 lakh.

The tender conditions made it impossible for them to participate in the tender process. It was for the first time in many years that the civic body had divided the works into three major packages, which required very heavy investments in material, men and machinery. In spite of representations to the authorities, no action was taken to issue tenders by splitting the works into smaller packages, enabling the association members to participate in the tender process.

The Hindu      23.12.2010

By-election to local bodies on January 10

PUDUKOTTAI: By-election to 21 posts of local bodies will be held on January 10. While 15 seats are lying vacant for the village panchayat ward membership, two posts each for ward councillors of town panchayats and panchayat unions are vacant. By-poll to the post of two village panchayat presidents would also be held, as per the notification issued by the State Election Commission.

In a release here on Wednesday, G.S. Ramadasu, Collector (in-charge), said the last date for filing of nominations is December 29 and the nominations will be scrutinised on December 30. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is January 3 while the votes will be counted on January 12.

By-election will be held to the following 15 village panchayat ward members: Ward I in Neppugai panchayat, Panayapatti village; Tiruvarankulam panchayat and Mullipatti panchayat; Ward II of Avanathankottai village panchayat; Sunaiyakadu panchayat;Karambaviduthi panchayat; Nanjur panchayat; Kavinadu Kizhakku panchayat; Sembattur panchayat; Tirumayam panchayat and Tiruvarankulam panchayat; ward III in Theeyathur panchayat and Kaarakottai panchayat; ward IV in Varipattu panchayat. By-election will be held to the post of councillors for ward 4 and 6 of Arimalam town panchayat; ward 8 of Ponnamaravathy panchayat union; ward 1 of Tirumayam panchayat union; village panchayat presidents for Amaradakki and Pullanviduthi village panchayats.

Nagapattinam

By-polls for 22 vacant posts, including that of councillor (no.13), Kuthalam Union; chairperson of Keezhvelur Panchayat Union; and members of Okkur Panchayat are scheduled will be held.

Filing of nominations that commenced on Wednesday would continue till December 29 and the filed-in nominations would be taken up for verification on December 30. Nominations may be withdrawn on January 3. The by-polls are scheduled to be held on January 10 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the counting and declaration of results on January 12.