Send fresh notice to Alagiri: Bench

MADURAI: The Madurai district collector was on Friday permitted by the Madurai Bench of the High Court to send a fresh notice to Union Minister M K Alagiri and the members of his family in connection with the encroachment of an irrigation tank for the Daya Engineering College.M Ramalingam, a farmer, had lodged a complaint with the District Collector alleging that the owners of the college had encroached upon an irrigation tank and damaged the bunds.   Meanwhile, the District Collector sent a notice to Alagiri, his wife Kanthi and son Durai Dayanidhi to appear before him on September 16 and give an explanation in this regard.  Contesting this notice, a petition was filed on behalf of Alagiri and family, stating that the notice was issued with a political motive and that there was no proof to sustain the allegation.  The petition sought the stay of the notice and its revocation.   When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, a division bench comprising Justice P Jyothimani and Justice M M Sundaresh directed the Collector to explain his action. When the hearing resumed before the Bench on Friday, it was submitted on behalf of the government that the Collector would withdraw the notice.  However, the Bench then held that the Collector had the right to issue a new notice seeking an explanation from Alagiri and his family over the matter.  The Bench also said that the petitioners could challenge the notice legally and dismissed the petition.