The bench comprising acting Chief Justice M S Shah and Justice D H Waghela has asked the two as to why a public interest litigation filed by NGO Jan Sangharsh Manch in this regard not be admitted. The notices, issued on Tuesday, are returnable by September 9.

Making submissions in the court, JSM advocate S H Iyer said that in June 1998, the sea coast in Kandla was hit by a cyclone resulting in a large-scale destruction.

He further submitted that the government had promised to provide accommodation to the cyclone-hit families under the Sardar Awas Yojana. According to a policy decision taken on August 30, 2001, he said, the government had vowed to build 3,011 cyclone-proof houses.

The land cost was agreed to be borne by the Ministry of Surface Transport and the Centre. The cost of each house was estimated to be Rs 50,000, of which one-third was to be paid by the state, one-third from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and the remaining amount by each of the beneficiaries.

Iyer submitted that as per provisions of the scheme, most of the victims deposited their share of Rs 17,000 in the savings bank account number 01190007434 of the State Bank of India at Gandhidham.