The Madras High Court has asked for a status report from regulatory bodies about the commercial buildings in T Nagar which had been built in violation of approved plans.
Authorities have been ordered to take action against illegal and unauthorised constructions in and around T Nagar, reported The Times of India.
The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, initiated suo motu PIL proceedings.
They will be following the guidelines set by the earlier first bench headed by the then Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, on October 7, 2016.
The court also issued notices to the secretary, housing and urban development department, CMDA, commissioner of Chennai Corporation, Chennai city commissioner of police and director of fire and rescue services.
This comes days after the Chennai Silks building in T Nagar was brought down after a fire broke out in the building on May 31.
The News Minute had earlier reported about documents which revealed that the lack of fire regulations in Chennai Silks and other establishments in the city's commercial hub, was not acted upon because of the 'political situation' in the state. This admission came from the Secretary of the Urban Development and Housing Department.
In reply to a writ petition filed by the T.Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association, in February 2017, the secretary states that recommendations given by the Justice Rajeswaran Committee on the regularisation of the unauthorised buildings was yet to be approved by the government.
The Justice Rajeswaran Committee had been set up by the Madras High Court after a fire safety audit in T Nagar revealed that at least 10 commercial establishments had flouted norms set by the Government.
This list included all the big brands - Chennai Silks, Pothys, Saravana Stores, Saravana Gold House, Sri Kumaran Gold house, Nalli Trust, RMKV stores and Jayachandra Textiles.
The case has been adjourned for further hearing for July 28, 2017, reported TOI.