Summons to CMDA officials in farmlands conversion case

First bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, on hearing a PIL seeking to restrain conversion of agricultural land into layouts and also forebear its registration, said “In order to pass necessary orders we would require a senior officer from the CMDA and Registering authority to remain present in the Court who is familiar with the issue.” The PIL moved by Advocate Elephant Rajendran had expressed concern over conversion of agricultural land for urban use in an unauthorized manner. He had submitted that owing to absence of any restriction on registration, small portions of land get registered, and thereafter, that land area is treated as a whole and sanction to urban use obtained. It may be noted that the court in its earlier order on the same issue had observed that the conversion of agricultural land to urban land has to be an administrative decision and to an extent may require legislative changes. It had also noted that the Government should make it clear as to what lands are to be put for agricultural use and what lands are to be put for urban use.

The Madras High Court on Friday has directed the police officer part of B2 Esplanade Police Station to be present in Court on August 16 for returning a fish cart which was fitted with a motor owing to the intervention of some advocates.  Traffic Ramaswamy in his Public Interest Litigation (PIL) had submitted that there exists a ban on fish carts and based on that he had handed over one such vehicle to the police. But the police instead of initiating action, returned it to the owner. The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, took strong exception to the cop’s act and directed the police to file a status report. It also ordered the police officer concerned who returned the cart, to be present in court.