HC stays TN govt plan to shift Anna Centenary Library

Updated on: Saturday, December 17, 2011

In a further setback to the TN government's plans to shift the 'world class' Anna Centenary Library from its present location to another, the Madras HC said the government should not construct a building for the purpose.

On November 4 last,the First Bench comprising Chief Justic M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam had in an interim order restrained the state from shifting the library, constructed by the previous previous government from its present location to the Directorate of Public Instruction complex until further orders.

"Let it be made clear that this interim direction amounts to forbearing the state from proceeding to make any construction for the purpose of shifting the library,"the Judges said while hearing seven petitions from various quarters, challenging a Government Order of Nov 2 on shifting the library.

The Bench said 'the library shall function as it is without any interference." The Judges posted the petitions for hearing on Jan 19 next after state Advocate General A Navaneethakrishnan sought an adjournment of hearing till after the pongal holidays. When the matter came up for hearing, no counter affidavit had been filed in response to the petitions.

The AG produced a letter from the Additional Chief Secretary, requesting a short adjournment for filing a counter affidavit. In a PIL Tamil poet Kavignar Ilayabharathi said his petition 'is aimed at preserving the granary to feed the thirst of public general knowledge' and challenge the G.O. to shift the library from its location at Kotturpuram to the DPI complex.

Describing the library as a world class facility with various unique features besides being student friendly, the petitioner referred to an interview in which an architect of the library C N Raghavendran had told a national daily that the building was constructed only for the purpose of accommodating a library.

Any attempt to convert it for any other purpose would ruin it and defeat the very objective for which the building was made, he had said. Claiming that when the building was constructed specifically for a library after obtaining permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, it could not be put to any other use, the petitioner sought to declare as 'null and void' the government's decision to shift the library and convert the vacated building into a hospital. Petitioner's counsel P Wilson said public access to the library had been restricted after government's decision to shift it.

In another petition, senior advocate R Gandhi also sought to forbear the Jayalalithaa government from shifting the library from Kotturpuram to any other place.

HC stays TN govt plan to shift Anna Centenary Library

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