J. Julie Sangetta v. Member Secretary, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority
2016-09-07
H.G.RAMESH, S.VAIDYANATHAN
body2016
DigiLaw.ai
ORDER : 1. Challenging the locking and sealing notice dated 19.10.2015 issued by the Corporation of Chennai, in respect of the building at Door No. 89/50, MKN Road, Alandur, Chennai, the petitioners have come forward with the writ petition in W.P. No. 38432 of 2015. 2. The relief sought for in other writ petitions is to direct the authority concerned to take necessary action in respect of the unauthorised deviated construction at Door No. 89/50, M.K.N. Road, Alandur, Chennai, as per the instructions of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority in his letter Nos. ES2/11440/2010 dated 20.02.2012 and 26.04.2012. 3. The case of the petitioners in W.P. No. 38432 of 2015 is that their father K. Joseph was the absolute owner of the property situated at No. 89/50, M.K.N. Road, Alandur, Chennai-600 016, which was conveyed to him by one Subba Reddy Charities represented by its Managing Trustee through O.P. Nos. 6, 7 and 8 of 1990, pursuant to a compromise entered into between the parties before the District Munsif Court, Poonamallee dated 02.03.1990. Thereafter, the eighth respondent in W.P. No. 38432 of 2015, who is representing the petitioner in other four writ petitions, had filed a suit in O.S. No. 686 of 1991 before the District Munsif Court, Poonamallee, against the petitioners' father, seeking to declare the said property as null and void. Subsequently, in view of a compromise entered into between the parties, the said suit was decreed in favour of the petitioners' father. It is the further case of the petitioners that after obtaining prior permission in Approval No. 154/93 dated 27.05.1993, their father constructed the ground floor in the property in question. Thereafter, he constructed the first floor and made an application dated 28.06.2002 to the authority concerned, seeking regularization of the same, to which, he received no reply. In the year 2005, he put up a temporary structure with tin sheet at second floor. Thereafter, he settled the property in favour of the petitioners. While so, the Corporation authorities has issued a notice dated 19.10.2015 to the petitioners' father, stating that the first and second floors constructed in the property in question are unauthorized constructions and calling upon him to restore the building to its original condition, failing which, appropriate action would be taken as per law. Challenging the same, W.P. No. 38432 of 2015 came to be filed. 4.
Challenging the same, W.P. No. 38432 of 2015 came to be filed. 4. We have heard all the parties and also perused the materials placed before us. 5. The facts made available herein would reveal that the petitioners in W.P. No. 38432 of 2015 are the children of one K. Joseph/one of the respondents in W.P. Nos. 28511 and 37822 of 2015 filed by Subba Reddy Charities rep. by its Managing Trustee. The subject matter of the property in all the writ petitions is situated at No. 89/50, M.K.N. Road, Alandur, Chennai-600 016. The petitioners in W.P. No. 38432 of 2015 are the owners of the said property and they have been residing in the building constructed therein. 6. Admittedly, there are deviations in the construction of first and second floors of the property in question, for which, notice was issued to the original owner K. Joseph. The construction of the second floor, according to the petitioners in W.P. No. 38432 of 2015, is only a temporary structure, whereas according to the learned standing counsel for the first respondent, is a permanent structure and is an unauthorised construction, for which, notice has been issued, as per law. At this juncture, it is sought to be argued by the learned counsel for the petitioners in WP. No. 38432 of 2015 that no notice was served on the real owners of the property in question, as such, the locking & sealing and demolition of the building, if any, is in violation of the principles of natural justice. 7. The petitioner cannot on technical grounds contend that the owner has not received the notice and the present petitioner is a lawful owner. Whoever is the owner of the property, there should be a plan to construct the building. The building plan is given only based on the size of the land and not based on the owner of the land. Owners may change, but there should be sanction plan for construction of the building. 8. In the case on hand, admittedly, there is a violation. The petitioner is trying to seek the help of this Court and expects this Court to support the cause based on technical grounds, thereby, he can continue to occupy the illegal construction. 9.
Owners may change, but there should be sanction plan for construction of the building. 8. In the case on hand, admittedly, there is a violation. The petitioner is trying to seek the help of this Court and expects this Court to support the cause based on technical grounds, thereby, he can continue to occupy the illegal construction. 9. Therefore, the authority concerned is directed to issue a fresh notice to the real owners indicating the alleged violation in respect of the construction of the building in the property in question and directing them to remove/demolish the unauthorised construction, within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of such notice. In the event of failure of the real owners to remove/demolish the unauthorised construction, the authority concerned is entitled to do the same, at the cost of the real owners. Accordingly, W.P. No. 38432/2015 is disposed of. 10. Insofar as the prayer made in W.P. Nos. 28511/2015, 37822/2015, 23766/2013 and 33481/2013 are concerned, it is submitted by the learned counsel for the respondents that in view of the order passed in W.P. No. 38432 of 2015, the relief sought therein has become infructuous and nothing survives for adjudication. Therefore, all the Writ Petitions are closed. However, if the petitioner Trust is still aggrieved, it is open to them to file a fresh Writ Petition to redress their grievance. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. 11. Before parting with, this Court observes that in Chennai, there are lot of violations with regard to construction and also, there are land encroachments which has got to be curbed with iron hands and there is no reason why the authorities are ineffective in taking steps and even if steps are taken, it moves in a snail's pace. We are of the view that the authorities must take dynamic action to decimate the violated buildings without standing on any technicalities. 12.
We are of the view that the authorities must take dynamic action to decimate the violated buildings without standing on any technicalities. 12. Whenever it is brought to notice that there is land encroachment on the roads or in any other place or violation of construction, it is open to the authorities concerned to call for the following details from the violator by issuing appropriate notice:- (a) Registered Deed based on which the property has devolved upon the person (b) Extent of square feet mentioned in the Schedule property (c) Width of the road (d) Actual constructed area (e) Approved plan (f) Whether set back space has been provided as per the Plan/Rules 13. It is the bounden duty of the person, who receives the notice to furnish all the details called for, failing which, it has to be presumed that there are violations and it is open to the authorities to act as per law. Wherever there are encroachments on road, road width has got to be restored. If there is no Building Plan, deviations if any, have got to be removed by the petitioner. If not, the authorities are entitled to remove the same in accordance with law, recovering the demolition costs from the petitioner.