The Hindu : SC notice to Sonia in tanks demolition case

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 20, 2002

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SC notice to Sonia in tanks demolition case

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI April 19. The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Congress and its president, Sonia Gandhi, on an application seeking to implead them in a special leave petition (SLP) challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court judgment upholding the action of the State Government razing to the ground two major tanks in Tirupati to facilitate the holding of a plenary session of the party in April 1992.

A Bench comprising B.N. Kirpal and Arijit Pasayat ordered notice on the application, filed by Intellectuals Forum, Tirupati which also sought a directive to the Congress to pay adequate compensation for restoring the 500 year old `Avilala' and `Peruru' tanks in Tirupati on the basis of the "polluter pays" principle.

The Forum had filed writ petitions in the High Court challenging two GOs to close down the two tanks on the ground that they were not in use and would be used for the development of a housing project.

The court dismissed the petitions in September 2000 and against this a SLP was filed and in April last the apex court ordered status quo. The present application was filed even as the SLP was pending.

The applicant submitted that the worst damage was done to the Avilala tank when the Congress was in power both at the Centre and in the State.

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