CHENNAI: Noting that nation’s security is people’s security, the Madras high court has ordered removal of all encroachments on land allotted to Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai. Civil society and the state government are bound to protect defence activities, it said.
“The importance and significance of the security of the nation should not be undermined or compromised. Thus, wherever defence lands are under encroachment, then the state is bound to evict the encroachers and hand over the lands to the defence department,” Justice S M Subramaniam said.
The court directed the state to conduct a survey and evict all the encroachers in Tulasingapuram and Nandambakkam and evict all those found to be encroaching defence land within eight weeks.
The state has also been directed to provide alternate accommodation to the encroachers by allotting tenements/land for the eligible poor, downtrodden people enabling them to get accommodation under any government welfare schemes.
The issue pertains to a plea moved by P Singaravelu seeking to restrain the authorities of the OTS from constructing a wall in Nandambakkam. He alleged that the wall would prevent them access to the Butt Road.
When the plea came up for hearing, it came to light that about 214 residents of the area are encroaching defence and government lands.
The court ordered removal of such encroachments and handover the land to OTA.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/evict-all-encroachers-from-land-belonging-to-ota-says-madras-high-court/articleshow/87994542.cms
