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Status quo ordered for 15 educational institutions

A division benchdisposed of a batch of petitions from Jayam Polytechnic College and 14 other colleges
Chennai: The Madras high court ordered maintenance of status quo by both parties in respect of the buildings of 15 educational institutions in Dharmapuri district.
A division bench, comprising justices N. Paul Vasanthakumar and K. Ravichandrabaabu, disposed of a batch of petitions from Jayam Polytechnic College and 14 other colleges, challenging the notices issued by the deputy director of town and country planning, calling upon the colleges to apply for approval from the competent authority under the Town and Country Planning Act, failing which the buildings will be locked and sealed.
Senior counsel K. Doraisami and advocate K. Selvaraj submitted that the petitioners had approved plans granted by the competent authority/local body and based on this, the buildings were constructed prior to 2010. While so, they received the communication from the deputy director of town and country planning.
The state government had enacted the TN Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 2010, inserting section 47-A , as per which it was mandatory for the local authority to obtain prior concurrence of the director of town and country planning before according building permission.
The buildings of the petitioners were constructed before this section came into force, and, therefore, the petitioners had no obligation to comply with the provisions of section 47-A, they added. The bench said it was open to the petitioners to submit their objections about the impugned orders.
The deputy directors of town and country planning were directed to get a clarification from the commissioner/director of town and country planning, to take further action in the matter. After receiving this, the deputy directors of town and country planning of the respective region were directed to pass speaking orders in accordance with law within four weeks.
The petitioners were permitted to submit their objections within one week. Till fresh orders were passed by the deputy directors of the respective region, status quo as on today, in respect of the buildings of the petitioners, shall be maintained by both parties, the bench added.
( Source : dc )
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