Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the state government not to precipitate any problem, pursuant to the proposed acquisition of land for the multi-crore Chennai-Salem green corridor project.
“Sivagnanasambandan, counsel appearing for the petitioner, submitted that four persons have been arrested in Cheyyar and the same has been reported in newspapers. It appears that the four persons were assisting another person, who had come to field (the area), who, according to the petitioner, to assist the local public who are likely to be affected by the acquisition to submit their written objections. We have made a very pointed observation in several of our earlier orders that nothing should be precipitated by the state government or its officials. Government pleader is directed to get appropriate instructions in the matter and issue necessary instructions to the officers more particularly those in the field level not to precipitate any problem further, which will be viewed very seriously by the court”, said a division bench comprising Justices T.S. Sivagnanam and V. Bhavani Subbaroyan.
The bench posted to September 24, further hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the land acquisition proceedings.
The bench said, “When we heard the matter on September 14, we recorded the submission of the additional solicitor general that nothing will happen as apprehended by the petitioners, as the apprehension of the petitioners was that notification under section 3D of the National Highways Act would be issued. As we have commenced hearing of the petitions, we deem it appropriate that the statement made by the Additional Solicitor General which was placed on record on September 14 shall continue and no further precipitative action shall be initiated by the forest department pursuant to the notification issued under section 3A (1) of the National Highways Act until further orders.”
