Madras High Court pulls up TNHUD for disobeying earlier verdict

Chennai: Madras High Court has asked Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development, to appear before the court on February 21 to file his reply as to why its verdict was not obeyed for six years. The matter pertains to a plea of Kolkata based hospitality company, New Kenilworth Hotel Private Limited. In 1994, it had approached the government for setting up an amusement theme park in Vilankurichi village, Coimbatore, and sought permission for taking on lease a portion of the 25.19 acre allotted by the government.

The company said government authorities posed several hurdles but did not grant approval. Based on its petition, a division bench of the Madras High Court on December 3, 2010 directed the authorities to issue all necessary approvals without any further delay to enable the company to start construction of the star hotel. Six years later, the company filed a contempt petition before the High Court seeking action against the authorities for not obeying the verdict. The company prayed to the court to punish secretaries of Social Welfare and Revenue departments, Coimbatore District Collector and the member-secretary of Coimbatore Local Planning Authority and MD, the TN Corporation for Development of Women.

When the matter came up for hearing before the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. Sundar, it was informed that the files relating to the approvals are pending with the housing secretary.