‘Two women playing fraud on Madras High Court, seal building’

Based on their petition, on February 2 this year, the court permitted the petitioners’ request with a condition that the entire unauthorised structure should be demolished in two months. The court had said if the two failed to obey the order, corporation would initiate punitive action against them. However, they violated the judicial relief by letting out the illegal portions for rent without carrying out any rectification.

When the matter was brought to the court’s knowledge by the builders’ neighbour, B. Sukumar, the first bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said “This happened as a consequence of de-sealing, the ground, first and second floors are occupied. Radha Agarwal and Lalitha Agarwal played a fraud on the court and now they seem to evade service, as notices are stated to have been returned unserved, projecting as though the premises are locked.”

The corporation and CMDA officials failed to file their replies to the petition. The court gave them two weeks to file counter-affidavits failing which it would be accepted only on payment of Rs 10,000 as costs per counter-affidavit.

“The Chennai corporation has turned a blind eye to blatant violations. We find it difficult to believe that all this is possible without active collusion of corporation officials”, the Chief Justice said. The Bench ordered immediate sealing of the building and its original position restored within three days, with police assistance. The case was adjourned to October 13 for further hearing.