Plea challenges takeover of building for quarantine

The Madras High Court, without expressing any opinion regards the merits of the case moved by Shree Geetha Bhavan Trust (SGBT) in Royapettah, on it being converted into a quarantine centre for COVID-19 patients, has sought the government to consider SGBT’s representation to not apply the provisions of Disaster Management Act 2005 on it alone.

The SGBT, represented by its managing trustee Ashok Kumar Goel, had submitted that invoking the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), through a notice on May 2, had directed it to remove its belongings on the premises and hand over the building immediately to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to quarantine the COVID-19 patients.

It further said that in the event of a takeover, the building will be maintained at the expenses of GCC until the COVID19 crisis is over. Challenging the same the plea was moved.

However, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that a representation in this regard was submitted on May 7 and that it would suffice to direct the authority to consider the same. Based on this, Justice M Duraiswamy said the DDMA may consider the representation on merits as per the law, as expeditiously as possible.