CHENNAI: AS marshlands are the nation’s natural wealth, a separate authority has to be formed by the Central government to protect them, the Madras High Court has said.Taking note of the mindless encroachment and discharge of hazardous effluents into the marshlands by the government agencies and private entities, Justice N Kirubakaran said he had to necessarily deal with the matter very comprehensively in public interest, to preserve and protect the existing marshlands and to retrieve what had already been encroached upon.
The judge also suo motu impleaded the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) as a party respondent in the case and directed the Assistant Solicitor General S Srinivasan to get instructions whether any steps could be taken to preserve the existing marshland and to restore the same to its original state.
Getting agitated over the transfer of Saidapet joint sub-registrar, I Sivapriya, the judge also initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Vasuki, the deputy inspector general (registration).The judge pointed out that he had directed Vasuki to keep in abeyance the transfer order of Sivapriya as she had dealt with many sale deeds during her tenure. Moreover, as an officer working in that place for the past three years, she should be in a position to give details required by this court than any other new officer.
Therefore for effective enquiry, the court had directed the authorities to keep her transfer in abeyance.
The action of the authority concerned was in letter and spirit contrary to the order passed by this court in the presence of Vasuki. This was nothing but sheer violation of the court order. Hence, this court would initiate appropriate suo motu contempt proceedings against Vasuki, the judge said.
he judge has also issued a set of directives to the PWD, TANGEDCO, Revenue, Forest, Chennai Corporation, CMDA and CMWS&SB to preserve the marshland in Pallikaranai.
The judge was passing further interim orders on the anticipatory bail application from two persons, who apprehended arrest in connection with fabrication of documents for claiming a Government land measuring 66.7 acres worth about `66 crore in Pallikaranai. The judge was shocked to notice that as many as 202 documents pertaining to the marshlands were registered by the Registration Department since 1990.