CHENNAI: Water connections should be cut off to buildings that are constructed in violation of rules, the Madras high court has said. This will help supply water to law-abiding citizens as Chennai might face severe water scarcity this year, the court said.A division bench of Justice M Venugopal and Justice S Vaidyanathan made the observation while dismissing a plea moved by N Ravikumar seeking a direction to the Thiruvallur district administration to grant him patta for a piece of land he had encroached on.The court said the authorities should not waste time cracking down on encroachments and illegal construction. “We are of the view that the authority, whether it be officials of corporation/ government/ municipality, is expected to decide such matters pending before them on a day to-day basis without adjourning the same beyond 15 days,” the bench said.Unless there was a stay of the proceedings by the high court, the officials cannot close complaints or appeals on the ground of pendency of writ petition or writ appeal, the court said. “If they do so, it would amount to dereliction of duty. Officials shall be removed and posted in a nonsensitive post, if any complaint is made that they are not discharging their duties to the fullest satisfaction,” the court added.

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