Madurai: Passing orders to effect the removal of seemai karuvelam trees (propospis julifora) completely within the next 10 days in 13 districts of southern and Central Tamil Nadu, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday appointed an advocate commission to closely monitor the work.
When the additional public prosecutor P Govindarajan expressed the difficulties in uprooting these trees from patta lands, the court directed the Collectors of the respective districts to remove them and recover double the costs from the land owners if they failed to volunteer to comply with the court order.
The court, in its earlier interim order passed on January 10, had directed the 13 Collectors to remove seemai karuvelam trees within 21 days in the entire district, besides asking the district principal judges to inspect the areas.
However, when the case up for hearing today, the division bench, comprising Justices A.Selvam and P.Kalaiyarasan, expressed its disappointment after examining the action taken report submitted by the collectors.
Observing that the Ramathapuram district Collector had not taken any steps in this regard, Justice Selvam issued a contempt notice to him. The judge also directed the Collectors to give wide publicity in all the districts explaining to the people the damage seemai karuvelam trees causes to mankind, cattle and environment.
While directing the principal judges to continue their inspection in these districts, the court also asked them to inform the magistrates of munsif court in taluks to engage in the similar activities during free hours.
The Collectors, Corporation Commissioners and Municipality Commissioners were asked to meet the expenditure for weeding out the trees either from the Collector fund or general fund. The court has instructed the Collectors to depute the land surveyor, revenue inspectors, and village administrative officers to assist the judges.
Earlier, when MDMK leader Vaiko, one among the petitioners in this case, tried to argue that the havoc caused by the trees is a serious issue, the judges said that it was also a matter of concern to the court.
