Retired SI retains quarters for 15 yrs, report sought

Observing that absolute inaction on the part of the Housing and Urban Development Department and Estate Manager, Ambattur Sidco Industrial Estate in implementing the rule of law causes great concern to the court, Justice Subramaniam said, “The absolute laxity, dereliction of the duty and negligence on the part of the officials can never be condoned or pardoned. Contrarily, severe actions should be taken against those officials in accordance with law.”

When he was in the service, R Mani was allotted the police quarters No. A-2, Ambattur Industrial Estate. Even after retiring from the service as sub-inspector, he had not vacated the quarters and the Estate manager had issued impugned notice on May 9, 2005, asking him to surrender the quarters and pay the rental arrears within seven days.

However, instead of vacating the quarters, Mani filed a writ petition, which was admitted in the 2005. No interim order was granted. But the writ petition has been kept pending for the past 14 years. But curiously, the authorities did not initiate any action all these years to either evict Mani or collect the rental arrears from him.

Based, on this the bench impleaded Sidco MD suo motu, directing him to find whether any proper allotment of police quarters was done to Mani and what action was initiated for eviction of the premises after his retirement from service.

Directing Sidco MD to inquire into the dereliction of duty, negligence, lapses or collusion or corrupt activities in the matter of allowing such person to continue in the official quarters in an illegal manner, Justice Subramaniam asked him to submit a report before the court within a week. The plea has been posted for orders to September 23.