The Madras High Court has constituted a Committee, to be headed by former Judge K. Chandru, to look into the unauthorised constructions in Udhagamandalam.

Apart from Udhagamandalam, the former Justice will go into the aspects of illegal buildings constructed in violation of the Tamil Nadu District Municipality Act, 1920, in the taluks of Gudalur, Kothagiri and Coonoor in the Nilgiris district.

He will be assisted by retired IAS officer Sheela Rani Chunkath. Similarly, Justice K. Sampath will also chair the panel that will look into constructions in Kodaikanal.

The Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, will act as Common Member for the panels and R. Balakrishnan will be a Member of the Committee on Kodaikanal.

In October, the High Court passed an order containing nine directions and ordered the authorities to file a periodic status report with regard to demolition of illegal structures and compounding process taken every two months. After going through the action taken report filed by the Government, the Bench constituted two committees and posted the matter for further hearing to September 22.

A Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, gave the direction on a long pending PIL by advocate ‘Elephant’ Rajaendran, and Kodaikanal Environment Youth Society, which sought action against illegal constructions in the two hill towns thronged by tourists.