Court attaches highways department property in contempt case

CHENNAI: Officials of a Tambaram sub-court on Friday attached the property in the office of the highways divisional engineer on GST Road based on a court order and took away furniture and computer work stations in connection with a contempt of court case.
In 2004, the highways department acquired 17,900 sq ft of land for laying the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam from 18 individuals and offered to pay Rs 500 per sq ft.Seeking higher compensation, the displaced people moved the sub-court which in 2013 ordered an increase in the compensation. Six months after the verdict, when the promised compensation was not paid, the affected parties filed a contempt petition in court. On November 16 this year, the court ruled that the highways property should be attached.
Divisional engineer K Charulatha said they had sent the proposal to the tahsildar and the collector and were waiting for their response. “Only after we receive a reply from the authorities concerned will we be able to send a proposal to the government for sanction. The revenue department needs to expedite the process. The highways department is at no fault.”
S Dharmarajan, one of those seeking compensation, said it had been a long wait. “We urge the authorities to speed up the process and give us our money.”
Another affected person K P Chandrasekar said taking possession of highways department property was only symbolic. “I urge the government to consider our plea and give us our compensation.”
Social activist and V Santhanam said the government should immediately grant compensation to the affected people who had lost their land. “Why should they wait for no fault of theirs. It is sad that this government does not respect or honour the court and its judgment.”