Supreme Court nod for Maradu probe panel

It will identify who cleared the projects that violated CRZ norms

The Supreme Court on Monday consented to the appointment of a committee chaired by retired Calcutta High Court Chief Justice, Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan, to conduct an enquiry to identify who is “responsible” for clearing the Maradu high-rise residential apartments, which were razed to the ground on the court’s orders for violating stringent coastal regulation zone norms.

The committee will also determine the quantum of liability among those responsible.

A Bench led by Justice L. Nageswara Rao passed the order as a follow-up to an earlier apex court direction on September 27, 2019 to form such a committee to zero in on the people behind the violation. On May 8, 2019, the Supreme Court had concluded that the high-rises overlooking the backwaters was an “unscrupulous trespass” which would have a “devastating effect” on the fragile eco-zone of the area.

The court said the committee should complete its enquiry and submit a report expeditiously while scheduling the next hearing for the third week of July.

Initially, the court had asked retired Kerala High Court judge, Justice A.M. Shafique, to head the enquiry committee. However, senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, along with advocate Nishe Rajen Shonker for Kerala government, on instruction, sought a change. Following this, the Bench suggested Justice Radhakrishnan.

The turn of events which led to the formation of the committee was heralded by Kerala’s request to be reimbursed ₹61.5 crore it had distributed to the evicted residents of the flats on the orders of the apex court. Kerala had agreed to pay the flat owners on the basis of the September 27, 2019, order of the apex court that the amount would be recovered from those responsible for the violation.

After disbursing the amount, the State Government had filed an affidavit in October 2019, seeking reimbursement from the builders.