Residential plots in hilly areas: SC orders response to plea challenging government order

Tamil Nadu: The Chennai High Court has ordered the Tamil Nadu government to respond to a petition seeking the revocation of a government order requiring urban planning officials to obtain approval for the development of residential plots and construction in hilly areas.

Social activist S. Muralidharan filed a public interest litigation in the Chennai High Court, arguing that the Tamil Nadu government established the Hill Protection Commission in 1990 to protect hilly areas. No development work can be carried out in the 597 villages under this commission without the commission’s approval. Consequently, the Tamil Nadu government issued an order last February authorizing urban planning officials to approve and reclassify land for the development of residential plots and construction in hilly areas, instead of requiring the commission’s approval.

This government order seeks to override the regulations of the Hill Area Protection Commission. This government order will impact the environment of hilly areas. Therefore, the government order should be rescinded. He also argued that urban planning officials should be barred from granting approvals for housing and construction in hilly areas.

The matter came up for hearing on Wednesday before a bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arulmurugan. The judges hearing the case ordered the Tamil Nadu government to respond to the petition within four weeks and adjourned the hearing.