The Madras High Court has taken a strong stance on a troubling construction issue in Tamil Nadu. A division bench comprising Justice G Jayachandran and Justice K K Ramakrishnan has formally sought a detailed response from the Sivaganga district administration. This action follows a public interest litigation filed by a concerned citizen, K Karuppaiah.
Substandard Construction at Village PHC
The petition centers on a newly built outpatient building inside a primary health centre located in Kandaramanickam village, Sivaganga district. According to the petitioner, this structure was constructed at a significant cost of 80 lakh rupees. Notably, a substantial portion of this funding, 38 lakh rupees, came from a local villager under the 'Namakku Naame' community contribution scheme.
Serious Structural Defects Emerge
Although construction work finished in 2023, authorities never opened the building for public use. Soon after completion, alarming structural problems became visible. The petitioner reported serious defects including multiple cracks in the walls, issues with the roof, and damaged tiles. These flaws clearly point to defective construction practices and the use of poor-quality materials.
Despite these obvious problems, local authorities failed to take any meaningful action against those responsible for the substandard work. This inaction has created a difficult situation for village residents.
Villagers Face Healthcare Access Crisis
Because the new outpatient building remains unusable, villagers must travel much farther for basic medical services. They are forced to journey up to 10 kilometers to reach the nearest functional PHC situated in Thirupathur. This additional travel creates unnecessary hardship, especially for elderly residents and those requiring regular medical attention.
Repeated Petitions Ignored by Authorities
The petitioner stated that villagers submitted multiple representations to various authorities, pleading for intervention to address the defective construction. K Karuppaiah himself filed a formal representation highlighting these issues. However, all these appeals met with complete silence and inaction from the responsible officials.
Court Seeks Immediate Inspection and Repair
Frustrated by this official neglect, the petitioner approached the Madras High Court seeking judicial intervention. The petition requests specific directions to the authorities. First, it demands a thorough inspection of the newly constructed outpatient building. Second, it calls for an investigation to determine the exact causes of the structural defects and substandard construction. Finally, it seeks orders for all necessary repair work or complete reconstruction, followed by putting the building into public use as originally intended.
The court has now taken cognizance of this serious matter affecting public health infrastructure. By seeking an official response from the district administration, the judiciary has signaled its intent to ensure accountability and proper use of public funds meant for healthcare facilities.
