CHENNAI: The highrise B Block building standing adjacent to the ill-fated one which collapsed killing 61 people at Moulivakkam on June 28, is also in a precarious state and orders have been issued to demolish it, Advocate General AL Somayaji told the First Bench of Madras High Court on Thursday.
When the matter came up before the Bench of Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, the AG submitted that a notice has already been issued for demolition by making an order absolute u/s 138 of CrPC and proposing further action u/s 141(2) of CrPC.
When the PILs relating to the collapse, including one demanding CBI probe from DMK treasurer MK Stalin, came up for hearing Somayaji said whether the CMDA had approved the original plan or a ‘modified plan’ had to be clarified by the officials concerned.
However, P Wilson, senior counsel for Stalin, submitted that there was no such a thing as modified plan and that CMDA officials had cleared an original plan which did not submit crucial details while applying for approval. The Judges, on their part, said if it related to the original plan, then certainly there are grave deficiencies on the part of the authority concerned.
Referring to shortfalls pointed out by experts who had analysed the documents, the Judges said if such irregularities pertained to the original plan then the officer investigating the case must look into it.
Opening up the possibility of the investigating officials filing supplementary/ additional chargesheet in the case, the Judges said: “We are conscious of the fact that the statements recorded under Section 161(3) of CrPC would have been placed before the magistrate, who, of course, can always examine whether any accused are required to be added (in the chargesheet) or not.”
Wilson charged officials with trying to protect the second building which stood just next to the collapsed 11-storey highrise. Noting that it too was as precarious as the fallen building, he said.