File counter on Mahabs upkeep or will be summoned, Collector told

A division bench comprising Justices Vineet Kothari and R Suresh Kumar, before whom the plea came up on Thursday, took exception to the aspect that the Kancheepuram Collector had failed to respond to the notice issued to him during the earlier hearing.

However, on conceding to the submission of the Special Government Pleader appearing for the Collector seeking time, the bench adjourned the case to January 2. But along with it, the bench issued a warning of summoning the Collector if he failed to file his counter by then.

The high court had taken suo motu cognisance of maintaining Mahabalipuram based on a note circulated by Justice N Kirubakaran to the Chief Justice to promote the town and continue with the arrangements made there during the informal meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October this year.

Justice Kirubakaran on highlighting the historical importance of Mahabalipuram and the vast domestic and foreign tourism potential it possesses, said, “In connection with the summit, the entire town was cleaned and spruced up. Thereafter, it is seen from the newspaper reports that people thronged the town and littered the entire area, which has not been cleaned up, bringing it back to the very old position, making it a dirty place.”

He further noted that foreigners are afraid to visit many parts of India where often, incidents of rape and molestation of women and children, are reported. As far as tourism is concerned, the safety of tourists, especially women and children, is paramount, he noted and sought to retain CCTV arrangements which had been in place for the summit.

Justice Kirubakaran in his note had also sought to make littering in the town an offence and impose a fine of at least Rs1000 on the defaulters. Also, the encroachments that were removed on account of the summit should not be allowed to crop up again, he added.