Revamp Koyambedu market with a time-bound plan, says High Court

The First bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, while passing orders on a public interest litigation petition in respect of the unpalatable and pitiable conditions prevailing at the market, said “We notice that the court appointed two local commissioners inspected the area and submitted a report along with a list of recommendations. It appears that thereafter nothing has transpired for the last six years and the result of the recommendations is also not known.”

Also, the bench on holding that the photographs were a reflection of what the Government was not doing rather than what it was doing, said “It is needless to say that the large wholesale market must have appropriate facilities. There should be clear demarcated areas for loading and unloading, specific areas for halting vehicles, proper electricity connections, bathroom and other basic facilities. All these seem to be completely absent as apparent from the photographs and the report.” 

Dr Ambdekar Sumaithukkum Thozhilalar Nalla Sangam in its plea had contended that the Koyambedu Market Management Committee established with the objective of managing the whole market with as many as 3154 shops and thousands visiting it every day, had flouted all norms and was not keen on managing the market. It also submitted that despite the court restraining the committee from any way altering the master plan, it continued to violate it by converting several places which were not earmarked for shops to commercial spots for their personal gain. 

The bench taking strong exception to the sorry state of affairs prevailing at the market has directed the principal secretary, CMDA to examine the recommendations of the Advocate commissioners and set forth a plan to revamp the area properly. 

Posting the case for compliance to the Sept 23, the bench also insisted that “the final plan of action within a stipulated time should be submitted with bar charts showing periods of compliance.