No more govt offices on waterbodies

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to issue a binding circular mandating disciplinary action and recovery of public losses from officials who approve government buildings on waterbodies.

- HD Bureau

A bench led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan made the order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by C. Prakasam, who challenged the location of a primary health centre and a village panchayat office in Sirkazhi taluk, Mayiladuthurai, allegedly built over waterbody land. The court emphasised that any public building or institution constructed on a waterbody—when sanction was granted irresponsibly—must invite penal consequences for the official responsible.