Chennai: The Madras high court has directed A. Abdul Baquar, joint registrar cum additional private secretary to the Chief Justice, to visit the areas in and around NSC Bose road as well as the eateries, said to be functioning in and around Raja Annamalai Mandram, ascertain the ground situation (relating to hawkers), take photographs and submit a report to the court.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M. Sundar gave the directive and posted to August 18, further hearing of the contempt petition filed by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy relating to hawkers on NSC Bose road.
The bench said this contempt petition has been filed, complaining that there was a violation by the authorities of positive directions given by this court dated October 13, 2015.
Its attention was drawn to one such order dated January 18, 2017, wherein, in addition to the area referred to in the October 13, 2015, order (violation of which was complained in the instant contempt petition), an area adjoining Raja Annamalai Mandram and eateries therein on a public footpath, had also been brought to the notice of the court.
Now, the petitioner placed 16 photographs before the court. According to him, these photographs show that the authorities had not complied with the positive directions issued by this court and that hawkers were still there or have re-established themselves in many parts of the NSC Bose road. This was denied and disputed by additional advocate general C. Manishankar, the bench added.
The bench said, “From the photographs, at the moment, we do not express any opinion. However, in the light of the controversy, we deem it appropriate to direct A. Abdul Baquar, joint registrar cum additional private secretary to the Chief Justice, to proceed to the above said places, particularly to those shown in the 16 photographs as well as the eateries, said to be functioning in and around Raja Annamalai Mandram referred to in the order dated January 18, 2017, ascertain the ground situation, take photographs and submit a report to the court”.
