Abandon complex Pattinapakkam Assembly-cum-Secretariat project, insists on PIL in Madras High Court

Image is for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: The Hindu

The Madras High Court is scheduled to hear on Monday (Oct 5, 2026) a public interest litigation seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu government to abandon its plan to build a new legislative assembly complex with a secretariat on 25.55 acres at Pattinappakkam (Foreshore Estate) in Chen.

The PIL was taken up before First Division Judge Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan. Chennai-based advocate RS Tamilvendan filed the PIL.

The petitioner said he was shocked when he came across the news that the state government had in-principle approved the construction of an Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex on a 25.55-acre land belonging to the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, which was essentially meant to build low-cost housing for the people.

Mr. Tamilvendan said that the Assembly-cum-Secretariat located at Fort St. George was the most ideal location as it was close to Puatchi Thalaivar MG Ramachandran Central Railway Station, Madras High Court Buildings, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and many other public facilities.

He pointed out to the court that both the Legislative Assembly and the Secretariat functioned from Fort St. George for decades. Although the DMK government built a new complex on Anna Salai between 2006 and 2011, the subsequent AIADMK government converted it into a government hospital.

Claiming that the existing buildings at Fort St. George could be renovated instead of spending ₹1,200 crore on a new complex, especially at a time when the government was facing a severe financial crisis, the petitioner said that the interests of fishermen based in and around Pattinapakkam could also be saved if the proposal was dropped.

He also told the court that the construction of the new complex at Pattinapakkam could lead to major traffic jams in the locality and said that his representation to the government authorities in this regard on 12 September 2026 was considered. He urged the court to stay the construction pending disposal of the PIL.

Published – 04 Oct 2026 10:53 IST