PIL filed in Madras High Court
# The Chambre was created by a French Decree in 1934.
# It has godowns, a site near port and office premises to support it financially.
# The Chambre was created by a French Decree in 1934.
# It has godowns, a site near port and office premises to support it financially.
CHENNAI: A public interest litigation alleging irregularities at the Chambre De Commerce in Pondicherry and attempts to defraud it of properties worth Rs. 30 crore has been filed in the Madras High Court.
A vacation Bench comprising Justice Prafulla Kumar Misra and Justice P. Jothimani, before which the matter filed by G. Sukumaran came up for hearing, admitted the plea and ordered notices to the Chief Secretary as well as the Secretaries of the Law and Local Administration Department of Pondicherry.
Mr. Sugumaran, besides seeking steps to make the Chambre beneficial for trade and commerce in the Union Territory, prayed for action against those who had flouted rules by registering the trade body under the Societies Registration Act.
Created by a French Decree in 1934, the Chambre had several godowns, a vacant site near the port and an office premises to support it financially. Office-bearers are elected for six-year terms and elections held in the presence of the Mayor of Pondicherry. Elections were last held in 1969 and the tenure of the office-bearers expired in 1975.
After the death of many members and office-bearers, the Chambre came under the control of a few persons, the petitioner said. When competent authorities were moved to revive the trade body and run it as per law, those controlling it registered it as a society in March 2000. The act was in violation of the French Decree and no Government approval was obtained.
Maintaining that it was an action punishable under various provisions of criminal law, the petitioner said the “intention was to defraud the Chambre of its properties valued at about Rs. 30 crore.”
He alleged “irregularities, fraud, theft and destruction of records, mismanagement,” and wanted initiation of civil and criminal action against persons responsible for the offences.
“In the interest of the trading community and workers, and in order to protect the legacy, tradition and ethos of the Chambre De Commerce,” the court must grant the relief prayed for, Mr. Sugumaran submitted.
The matter was adjourned by four weeks for further proceedings.
The Hindu / 08.05.2006.
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