PIL in Madras HC against shifting TN Assembly, Secretariat

The petition also sought an interim injunction restraining the authorities from shifting the state Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly from the present location.

Petitioner G Krishnamurthy, an advocate, submitted that the DMK Government built the new Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex in the Omandarur Government Estate off Anna Salai at a cost of over Rs 1,000 crore.

He said media reports suggested that the new AIADMK Government was "adamant" on abandoning the new complex and revert back to the old complex at Fort St George.

The petitioner claimed the shift move was not on the basis of any government decision but due to the preference of AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha and the leaders of the coalition which won the recent Assembly elections.

The Chief Secretary and the Public Secretary should explain under what authority they had decided to shift the Secretariat and Assembly, he submitted.

The petitioner contended that the 'decision' to shift Secretariat and the Assembly was illegal, unauthorised, against public interest and unmindful of the huge expenditure of money already spent.

Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is likely to come up for hearing tomorrow.

Replying to a question from reporters yesterday, Jayalalithaa after assuming office as Chief Minister had said the Cabinet would take a decision on the fate of the new Assembly-Secretariat complex.