Chennai: The Madras high court has dismissed a public interest litigation, which sought a direction to the Chennai corporation to shift the abode of gypsies from the Marina beach and provide better and sufficient place to them to reside and not to permit anyone to set up their abode in future on Marina beach.
A division bench comprising Justices S.Manikumar and Bhavani Subbaroyan dismissed the PIL filed by Kanimozhi Mathi of Chennai.
Pointing out that the Chennai corporation has not been informed about the abode of gypsies on Marina beach, the bench said though the Chennai corporation has duty to maintain the Marina beach clean, until failure on its part to perform its duty, if brought to its notice, a direction cannot be issued to it for mere asking.
According to petitioner, Marina beach retains the world record as the longest beach. But its cleanliness condition spoils the pride. Regular walkers and joggers along and near the sea shore were forced to tolerate unacceptable open defecation on the entire stretch of the Marina beach from Foreshore Estate to Buckingham canal when they go to enjoy cool breeze and sunrise, she added.
She said now a group of gypsies has set up their residence on Marina beach near the swimming pool and they were using the open beach space as their toilets. No person could cross nearly one square kilometer without stamping on the human excreta near their abode. The intolerable foul smell can cause dangerous diseases.
