Petitioner alleges threat from realtors

When the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan commenced their sitting on Monday, Advocate Elephant Rajendran, the petitioner in the case, made a mention that a group comprising an advocate, who appeared for a real estate association, and eight other realtors threatened him. 

He alleged that immediately after the conclusion of the hearing, which resulted in the reiteration of the ban on registering unapproved layouts, the advocates cornered him and threatened him with dire consequences. 

He also told the first bench that he had lodged a complaint in this regard at the High Court police station and added that on an earlier occasion, despite the High Court’s suggestion to provide him security, the state government had refused stating that there remained no threat to his life. 

Based on his submission, the bench orally directed the Additional Advocate General C Manishankar to take necessary steps on the advocate’s complaint and ensure his safety. The High Court had on Friday declined to reconsider its order imposing blanket ban on registration of unapproved plots/layouts and conversion of agricultural lands. 

Many developers and their counsel moved pleas to implead themselves in the case stating that people were unable to buy and sell land owing to the ban. However, the court had refused to entertain the impleading petitions.