TN closes complaint against EPS in medical college buildings case

CHENNAI: Noting that there is no prima facie case against AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in the construction of 11 medical college buildings during his tenure as chief minister, Tamil Nadu govt has closed a complaint alleging irregularities in the projects.

Advocate general P S Raman made the submission on a public interest writ petition filed by N Rajasekaran of Thiruvarur, alleging irregularities in constructing medical colleges in Krishnagiri, Tiruvallur, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Namakkal, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, Nagapattinam, Tirupur and the Nilgiris during the AIADMK regime.


Recording the submissions, the first bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan directed the petitioner to explain, with reference to judgments of the high courts and the Supreme Court, whether a decision closing a complaint on the ground of 'no prima facie case' could be subjected to judicial review and adjourned the hearing.

According to the petitioner, the Tamil Nadu govt took a policy decision to establish one medical college in each district. The cost of the construction of the colleges would be shared by the centre (60%) and the state (40%) govts. Eleven new medical colleges were sanctioned for 11 districts with a capacity of 150 students, the petitioner said.

Accordingly, tenders were floated for the construction of the colleges. The govt officials who were in charge of the administration colluded with the then ruling AIADMK and allotted them to contractors decided by them, he alleged.

The companies which were allotted the tenders did not construct the colleges as per the specifications mentioned in the respective govt orders. While the GO for the construction of the college mentioned that it would be to an extent of 11.76 lakh sqft, only 9.99 lakh sqft was constructed, he alleged.

Pointing out that none of the 11 newly constructed colleges were built as per the respective GOs, the petitioner alleged that the former chief minister, who was holding the PWD portfolio, and officials, including the principal chief engineer Rajamohan, conspired with the contractors and swindled several crores.

Since the DVAC failed to take appropriate action on his complaint in this regard, he wanted the court to order a probe by the CBI.