The Hindu 17.03.2010
CMDA letter to flower vendor upheld
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has upheld a letter of the CMDA (Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority) of February this year asking a person to stop his business in flowers in Badrian Street, George Town, from March 1.
In his order on a petition challenging the order, Justice M.Jaichandren said that it could not be said that the letter dated February 12 was arbitrary and invalid. The CMDA and Chennai Corporation had scrupulously followed the directions of the court issued earlier.
In his petition, Sasi Kumar said he was carrying on retail business in flowers in Badrian Street. By the letter, the CMDA asked the petitioner to stop his wholesale business. Petitioner's counsel A.Thiagarajan contended that the authorities did not have any legal authority to come to a conclusion that all the 130 members of the petitioner association were carrying on wholesale business, without giving an opportunity of hearing to the individual members. Counsel for CMDA I.Paranthamen said the authorities had issued the necessary notices to the petitioner and to the other members of the Chennai Retail Flower Merchants Welfare Association asking them to show by way of records as to whether they were carrying on retail or wholesale business in Badrian Street.
After giving a reasonable opportunity of hearing, the impugned notice was issued asking the petitioner and the others to stop their wholesale business in flowers.
