Madras High Court permits construction of 110 shops around Cuddalore Manjakuppam playground
The Madras High Court has allowed the Cuddalore City Municipal Corporation to build 110 shops on the edge of a public playground. The court ruled that the shops, which will act as a compound wall, do not compromise the playground's public utility.
Why it matters
This case illustrates the tension between urban infrastructure development and the preservation of public recreational spaces.
The Madras High Court has permitted the Cuddalore City Municipal Corporation to proceed with the construction of 110 shops on the peripheries of a 15-acre public playground, known as Manjakuppam ground/Thangaraj Maidanam, utilising the funds sanctioned by the State government last year under the Kalaignar Nagarpura Mempattu Thittam 2025-2026.
Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed against the construction after recording the submission of the corporation counsel P. Srinivas that the shops would serve as a compound wall for the playground, as they could be accessed only from the roadside and not from the playground.
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