Marina Beach is not a shopping Mall – Madras High Court

A special bench of justices R Suresh Kumar and AD Jagadish Chandira of the Hon’ble Madras High Court observed in a recent judgement that only eatables, fancy items and toys shall be sold at the sprawling Marina Beach in Chennai.

“Except these three categories of goods, no other goods shall be allowed to be sold on the beach as they are unwanted.

Beach is not a shopping mall or bazaar but only a recreation area for the public, women and children,” the bench remarked.

The judges had earlier visited the world’s longest beach shore along with the officials of the Greater Chennai Corporataion (GCC).

Referring to the figures of 1980 shops as per the reports, the bench said such a huge number of shops to be run on the world’s second longest beach is “obnoxiously very very high” and unwanted when compared to the footfalls.

The comments were placed on record by the Judges while hearing the petitions relating to shops located on Marina Beach.

The court informed the authorities that such shops shall be located in an orderly manner and the remaining ones shall be removed.

The court has posted the matter to 8th Jan. ‘26 and has directed the authorities to submit a “Draft Plan” meanwhile.

The bench noted that the GCC has proposed to establish three Blue Flag beach areas and one has already been brought into use with various facilities for the visitors including a play area for children.

Editor’s Note

It is heartwarming to note that the Hon’ble judges had personally visited the Marina Beach to take stock of the deteriorating situation at the Marina Beach.

Gandhi Beach, also popularly known as, with the presence of an iconic statue of Mahatma Gandhi, is also home to one of the oldest functional Light Houses in India.

Several millions of visitors from across the world throng the public place of attraction all through the year.

While beaches globally have shops and shanties, the civic situation here has only been getting worse by the year, despite the best efforts of the housekeeping staff.

A few thousand vendors – selling food, snacks & everything under the sun (and the moon), especially in the most unhygienic ways possible – have found their ways inside the premises in a notorious way.

As there are no fixed rentals for operating from the premises, it is the local political mafia which controls and operates the entire premises giving commercial opportunities to the “connected”.

The city of Chennai and the world at large is looking at this judgement with eagerness, even as the Marina Beach remains the go-to place for everyone with a few bucks in their wallet or in their BMWs, to spend the much deserved time with themselves & the nature.