Tamil Nadu: SC nod to transfer Nilgiris collector

UDHAGAMANDALAM: The Supreme Court has permitted Tamil Nadu government to transfer the long-serving collector of the Nilgiris district, J Innocent Divya, from her current posting as per her request.In 2019, the apex court, while dealing with encroachments on Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor, had directed the Tamil Nadu government that Innocent Divya should not be transferred till the corridor case was over and without the leave of the court. Whenever the three-member Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor Commission requires her appearance, she shall appear and render assistance.Earlier, Divya had written to the government stating that she could be relieved from her current posting, as her part in the corridor case was almost over and affidavits on the government side for most of the petitions filed before the Commission. Based on her letter, the Tamil Nadu government filed a petition before the SC last week seeking the court's nod to transfer her.While upholding a 2011 Madras high court order directing closure/demolition of all resorts obstructing the elephant corridor, the Supreme Court had on October 14, 2020 directed the Tamil Nadu government to notify the 'Sigur Elephant Corridor' in the Nilgiris. It also appointed a three-member committee headed by retired judge of Madras high court justice K Venkataraman to hear the complaints of resort owners in the elephant corridor against the action taken by the Nilgiris collector and other allied issues.The Sigur elephant corridor area includes government land under revenue department and Tamil Nadu electricity board, private estates, resorts and forest area under leasehold.Divya took charge as the Nilgiris collector on July 10, 2017. She saw two elections, Lok Sabha and assembly, as election officer during her tenure.