CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday directed the State Government to file a report on the issue of unauthorised conversion of agricultural lands for urban use, within three months.
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice TS Sivagnanam, before which a petition filed by ‘Elephant’ G Rajendran came up for hearing, said that urbanisation should go on in an organised manner and a larger planning process was necessary.
If a particular land was used for agriculture, even if smaller portions of it were acquired, authorities should not grant permissions for conversion of the land for urban use. The designated use as per the plan should be adhered to. This, in turn, required a clear planning process for every other area, the bench added.
Expressing concern over conversion of agricultural land for urban use in an unauthorised manner, the petitioner sought the court to restrain the authorities from giving approval or permission to convert agricultural land into layouts and from registering unapproved plots and buildings.
Appreciating the petitioner, the bench said his plea could be treated as a suggestion, and directed the government to file a report.