CHENNAI: Holding that the Anna CentenaryLibrary should be maintained and upgraded in terms of thecourt's direction, the Madras High Court today directedthe state government to implement recommendations of a two-member advocate committee, which had inspected it, in a time-bound manner and submit a compliance report.
The library was built by the previous DMK government at Kotturpuram near here.
"If a state-of-the-art library is made, the duty of the government does not end with creating it but to see that it maintains itself and there is regular upgradation," the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, said.
"The library is required to be maintained and upgraded in terms of our direction," the bench said.
It directed government to submit a compliance report on the implementation of the committee's recommendations on 'Anna' (former chief minister Annadurai) birth anniversary on September 15, 2015 and posted the matter on that date.
On July 27, the court had appointed P T Asha and P Sunder as advocate commissioners to inspect the library and file a report.
A petition had been filed by S.T. Manonmani, a retired professor, seeking a direction to appoint an oversight committee under the chairmanship of a retired High Court judge to ensure that the library functions normally.
Disposing of the petition, the First bench, however, on perusal of the committee's report and the photographs submitted with it, said "..we may note that the problem is notso aggravated as we initially perceived but it is the case of lack of regular maintenance and upgradation, a task not difficult for the government to perform."
"Though finances in such a situation are not a problem for the state, the Commission also suggested very practical methods which can assist in generating revenue for the library itself to be self-sufficient."
"This is possible by giving the facilities of auditorium, conference halls, seminar halls, amphitheatre, etc for the purpose of generating income by giving it for rent. It is sad to see these facilities have been kept closed and one of the reasons for deterioration appears to be the lack of facilities."
The bench said it had no hesitation in directing the authorities "to implement all the recommendations of the two-member advocate committee in a time-bound manner. This couldrequire the government to prepare a schedule for carrying out necessary work and to submit a compliance report to the court from time to time."
" ...We also note that we have received a communication from Anna Centenary Library Employees Welfare Association which is also enclosed in the report."
"We do believe that service rules which are stated not to be in force must be brought in force, vacant posts be filled in and the matter be examined for enhancement of the post so that particular facilities in the library be fully functional. We thus dispose of the petition with hope and trust that the authorities will do the needful, now at least, expeditiously," the bench said.
On July 27, the First Bench had said "we find undoubtedly the library is supposed to be one of the best and of international standards. We are not commenting on whether it has been permitted to deteriorate deliberately or otherwise as alleged by the petitioner or whether it is maintained in the same condition as submitted by Advocate General A L Somayaji."
"We would like to have an impartial inspection of the library as the situation prevalent earlier when it was inaugurated is available from the number of photographs which are already before us. The course of action to our mind does not prejudice either of the parties but is with the objective of assisting the court," the bench said, appointing the two-member advocate committee.
The court had asked it to file a report by August 24.