2 weeks Ago By Suresh Kumar
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu govt on Thursday made a volte-face and informed the Madras High Court that it has already taken possession of 160.68 acres of land allotted to Madras Race Club (MRC) on September 9. It added that the submission made by Advocate-General P S Raman on September 5 before a division bench, stating that the govt is yet to take possession of the land and only a termination of lease notice has been issued, was incorrect.
Based on the submission of the AG, a division bench of the court refused to grant any interim relief to the club on September 9 on a plea moved by MRC in view of action taken by the revenue department to seal its premises in Guindy for failure to pay Rs 730 crore rental arrears. The submissions were made on a civil suit moved by MRC challenging the termination of the lease. An application was also moved seeking time to hand over the possession of the land to the govt.
The club wanted the court to consider its application on an urgent basis since September 24 is the last date to hand over the possession of the land. When the suit came up for hearing, senior advocate P Wilson representing the revenue department submitted that there is no urgency in the issue as the land has already been taken possession of by the govt. To this, senior advocate P H Arvind Pandian pointed out to the court a submission made by the AG before a division bench on a plea moved by the club challenging the action of the govt that the possession is yet to be taken.
Recording the submission, Justice R M T Teekaa Raman wondered whether the revenue department is disputing the submission made by the AG, who is a constitutional authority. To this, Additional Advocate General J Ravindran and Wilson informed the court that a modification petition has been filed before the division bench to modify the submission made by the AG, which is yet to be listed. Recording the submissions, Justice Teekaa Raman said, “You (govt) wanted to tie the hands of the division bench by AG’s submission and now you want the submission to be lifted.
” The court then adjourned the hearing of the suit to September 23, for the department to file its response..
