Madras High Court bench: Consider settling bills of contractor for putting up helipad

Madurai: The Madras high court bench on Thursday directed the Tamil Nadu PWD secretary to consider settling bills of a contractor for the work of putting up a helipad in Thanjavur on September 9, 2005, for the visit of then CM Jayalalithaa.

“Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and without expressing any opinion on contentions raised by the petitioner, government is directed to consider his representation of July 4, 2015, and pass orders on merits and in accordance with law after affording opportunity to him and other parties in six weeks,” Justice R. Mahadevan said while disposing the petition filed by contractor M. Peter.

Peter submitted that AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa was to visit Thanjavur for inaugurating welfare programmes. The assistant engineer attached to the executive officer of PWD contacted him 15 days in advance and entrusted him the work of putting up a helipad, wooden barricade and laying of road to the stage in an emergent manner. He also completed the work. The petitioner said the ruling party then changed and he was not sanctioned the cost of the work executed.