Displeasure over officials failing to heed to summons

As soon as the division bench comprising Justice M Venugopal and S Vaidyanathan, who had issued the summons, commenced their sitting, Additional Advocate General S R Rajagopal submitted that since the Revenue Secretary had to leave on an urgent official work to Delhi and the Tiruvallur District Collector being tied up with election related work were unable to appear. He said that the other officials including the Tahsildar were present and that a status report pertaining to the issues raised by the bench was also ready.

However, the bench on taking exception to their absence, observed that such excuses from the officials have become common and they deliberately avoid being present. Noting that the court orders are not being adhered to in letter and spirit, directed the officials to settle all appeal procedures pertaining to the case before the next date of hearing on April 26, when the said officials ought to be present or else face action.

The bench also came down heavily on the government advocates for failing to get proper instructions ahead of the hearing. Observing that for every hearing that transpires there is a different government advocate, who come utterly unprepared and stand like a statue, whenever a query is raised, the bench said the government advocates who are meant to assist the court fail to do their job.

The bench in a series of orders has been directing the State to remove illegal constructions and encroachments in public places and open spaces instead of regularising them. It had also held that setback violations cannot be regularised and stringent action taken against officials who fail to follow the rule. The summon to the Revenue Secretary was issued based on official lethargy in this regard.