The Madras High Court has observed that no individual can claim, as a matter of right, permission to establish shops on Marina Beach and expressed suspicion that a mafia syndicate could be operating behind the present litigation.
The observation came during the hearing of a petition filed by S. Devi, a resident of Triplicane, who sought the allotment of a shop on the beach. The court noted that earlier directions had already limited the number of shops on Marina Beach to 300, permitting them to sell food items, fancy goods and toys.
The case was heard by a Bench comprising Justices R. Suresh Kumar and A. D. Jagadish Chandira. During the proceedings, more than 600 shopkeepers who had been carrying on business along the beach filed petitions seeking to be impleaded as parties in the case.
While hearing the applications, the Bench observed that Marina Beach cannot be converted into a commercial hub. The court pointed out that several prominent coastal destinations such as Kovalam Beach, Puri Beach and Marine Drive are maintained in a clean and orderly manner.
The judges further noted that before the court’s earlier intervention, the beach had been encroached upon by numerous shops. The Bench expressed concern that certain vested interests might have collected money from shopkeepers and were now attempting to intervene in the case, raising suspicion about the possible involvement of a mafia network.
The court cautioned that any resistance to regulatory measures would endanger efforts to preserve Marina Beach for future generations. It emphasised that establishing shops on the beach cannot be claimed as a fundamental or legal right.
The Bench also recorded that the earlier direction permitting only 300 shops was issued after inspections carried out by the city corporation and other departments, along with a personal inspection conducted by the court. It stated that orders on the petitions would be passed at a later stage.