Panel established to investigate pvt firm’s allocation of marshland: TN notifies HC

The Madras High Court has been notified by the Tamil Nadu government that an inquiry committee has been established to look into the purported transfer of a section of Pallikaranai wetlands to a private business called IG 3 Info Limited.

When a case filed by an NGO, Kalamin Agni Sirahugal, came up for hearing, Additional Advocate General P Muthukumar made the statement before the first bench of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy recently.

The bench observed whilst recording the submission that the committee of inquiry has been established to determine if any individual in the registration department or any other department was engaged in drafting the fraudulent papers.

It also said that the committee will investigate if any papers transferring marshes in Pallikaranai to any individual were obtained unlawfully and whether any pattas had been issued in that person’s name. The court instructed the petitioners to provide any relevant documentation to the investigation committee in relation to their encroachment accusations.

In 2018, Kalamin Agni Sirahugal filed a suit, claiming that IG 3 Info Limited had been granted 20 acres of the marshland and that the corporation was trying to mortgage the property for Rs 1,350 crore. After taking into consideration the AAG’s comments, the bench dismissed the petition and closed a follow-up petition that was submitted in 2023.