High Court seeks action plan to check unauthorised constructions

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court today observed it was not possible for it to take over the functions of municipal authorities but can only goad them to perform their statutory duties as it sought a comprehensive action plan from the Advocate General to check unauthorised constructions.

The observation was made by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan during the hearing of a PIL seeking a CBI probe into the recent collapse of an under-construction multi-storeyed building here that left 61 persons dead this month.

The bench directed Advocate General A.L. Somayaji to suggest means and ways by which there can be monitoring and checks and balances as regards unauthorized construction "which is permeating various towns."

It asked the AG to place a comprehensive action plan, keeping in mind the exigency of the situation, within one month.