Will not interfere with civic body's powers over territorial limits: Madras HC

CHENNAI: Madras high court has refused to interfere with Chennai corporation over its power to decide on the territorial limits.

Dismissing a PIL filed by SVS Ilamvazhuthi, treasurer, Sarva Hindu Thirukoil Trust, Ayapakkam, Chennai, the first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M. Sundar said the court cannot interfere in the policy matter.

“The petitioner submits that the area occupied by him should be included in the areas covered by Chennai corporation, even though the prayer reads otherwise. What areas would come under Chennai corporation and what are the areas that would come under Ambattur municipality is a policy matter, with which the court cannot interfere. The petitioner has not been able to demonstrate any violation of any legal or even equitable right. The writ petition is misconceived and the same is dismissed,” the bench said.

The petitioner, an advocate, submitted that the Tamil Nadu Housing Board allotted land to him through action situated at Ambattur Scheme Part I, II and III and subdivided about 200 acres of land for the housing site and for commercial plots in 1992.

In 2005, the areas were handed over to Ambattur panchayat. He said that Chennai corporation included Ambattur panchayat into its limits but not Ayapakkam, where the plots situated. While some plot owners in the phase III were paying tax to Avadi municipality, other plot owners of phase I and II including himself, were paying tax to Ambattur municipality.

The petitioner submitted that the phase under Avadi municipality has been joined to Chennai Corporation, but not phase I and II, which continue to remain with Ambattur municipality.