HC tells Tamil Nadu to publish master plan for Kodaikanal

A division bench of the Madras High Court, of justices M Sathyanarayanan and P Rajamanickam, has asked the Tamil Nadu government to publish the amended master plan for Kodaikanal local planning area, within 12 weeks. The bench passed the order, while disposing of a plea by a Kodaikanal resident in this regard, after recording the submissions of the authorities that the amended master plan would be published soon. In his petition, S Mohamed Ali Jinnah sought to restrain the authorities from taking stringent action against any building in the hill station, till the finalisation of the master plan. The bench, recording the submissions by the deputy director of town and country planning, directed the authorities concerned to take effective steps to publish the amended master plan for Kodaikanal local planning area, within 12 weeks from the date of receipt of its order. The deputy director’s counter affidavit said consent was given for the preparation of a master plan, following a government order of September 21, 2016. A notification was also issued on October 5, 2016, inviting suggestions and objections to the proposed master plan, prepared by the Kodaikanal local planning authorities. Following this, 107 petitions giving suggestions, as well as objections, were received. A resolution, approving the amended plan, is in place and the official process to publish the amended master plan very soon is underway, the deputy director submitted. Recording the submissions, the bench ordered the finalisation of the matter.