C.KUMAR Vs. PRESIDENT TOWN PANCHAYAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioners in all the three writ petitions, totally 151 persons, have chosen to file these writ petitions for the issue of a writ of mandamus or any other writ or direction directing the third respondent, namely the District Collector, Kancheepuram to pay not less than Rs.3,00,000/- as compensation to each one of the petitioners besides providing suitable accommodation to the petitioners in Iyyappanthangal area itself.

(2.) ALL the petitioners were encroachers. It is not in dispute that the encroachments made by the petitioners and others on the water spread area of Porur lake were removed. Since the area over which the encroachment had been made and hutment were put by the petitioners happened to be a water body, they have not chosen to challenge the eviction. On the other hand, they have chosen to seek compensation for such eviction on the ground that they had been permitted to put up their hutments /constructions and were residing there for a considerable length of time paying property tax and other assessments. It is their further prayer that besides payment of compensation, they should also be provided suitable accommodation in the said area itself.

(3.) IN this case learned Additional Government Pleader submits that in the former writ petition, which was disposed of by this Court, representations in writing had been made and this Court was approached for a direction to dispose of the representation, whereas in the case on hand no such representation was submitted earlier. It is also pointed out by the learned Additional Government Pleader that even in the earlier writ petition, opportunity had been given to those affected persons, who had not then submitted their representations, to submit representations and the concerned authority, namely District Collector, Tiruvallur was directed to consider and pass orders on such representation within the time fixed by the Court.