Chennai, 23 December (H.S.) : Judges of the Madras High Court conducted an on-site inspection at Marina Beach on Monday to review matters concerning the allotment of shops. The inspection was initiated by a division bench comprising Justice R Suresh Kumar and Justice AD Jagadish Chandira. This move followed a petition filed by an individual named Devi, who sought the allotment of a shop at the iconic beach.

During the court proceedings, the Chennai Corporation Commissioner and the Secretary of the Environment and Forest Department had submitted reports detailing the steps taken regarding the allotment process. However, the bench found these reports to be unclear, prompting the judges to personally visit the site to assess the situation.

The inspection took place on Monday morning near the play area designated for differently abled individuals. Several high-ranking officials accompanied the judges during the visit, including Chennai District Collector Rashmi Siddharth Zagade and Chennai Corporation Commissioner J Kumanaragurubaran.

Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun was also present along with senior personnel from the revenue and police departments. The authorities briefed the judges on the current layout and the proposed areas for shop distribution.

The court's direct intervention aims to ensure transparency in the allocation of vending spaces while maintaining the environmental integrity of the beach. Statements from the officials indicated that the inspection helped clarify the spatial constraints and the existing arrangements on the ground.

This firsthand observation by the judiciary is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming hearings related to the case. Further directions are awaited as the court continues to examine the procedural aspects of the shop allotment scheme managed by the local administration.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary