CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Villupuram District Collector to appear before it along with his subordinates, on Tuesday (July 12), in connection with a public interest writ petition seeking protection to the Kidangal lake in Tindivanam.Prabakaran of Senthamil Nagar in Tindivanam prayed for a direction to the authorities concerned to restore the lake and to restrain any development contrary to the provisions of the TN Town and Country Planning Act.When the matter was taken up on April 7, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice TS Sivagnanam directed the Government Pleader (GP) to get instructions.When the case was taken up on June 28, the GP produced copies of his letters addressed to the Collector, RDO, tahsildar and Tindivanam municipality commissioner and stated that in spite of the letters and telephone messages, they neither contacted him nor sent any instructions for filing counter. The Bench directed them to appear before it on July 11 and give an explanation as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.Even today (Monday), the officers neither turned up nor filed any affidavit giving their explanations. Asking them to file their affidavit and to make their personal appearance before the court, the bench adjourned the matter till Tuesday. For their appearance before the court, they should not claim any DA or TA, the bench added.The bench also pointed out the resignation of Gopal Subramaniam from the post of Solicitor General. To keep the dignity of office, he had put in his papers. “Now you say that they are not responding to your phone call and letters. You are not supposed to defend them. You are degrading the office of the Government Pleader,’’ the bench told the GP.
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