The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Sadashivanagar case hearing adjourned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Sadashivanagar case hearing adjourned

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday adjourned hearing on more than 50 petitions challenging the Bruhut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) order directing the owners and tenants to seal or lock premises of buildings in Sadashivanagar which were alleged to have violated zonal regulations and land use norms.

The BBMP had claimed to have inspected these buildings in the area and said it had then issued notices to tenants and owners for what it said was illegal change in land use. In several cases, the BBMP had locked premises which were found to have violated the zoning regulations.

The buildings were ordered to be unsealed and the court had been hearing arguments by the BBMP, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the State Government and the petitioners.

The BBMP had claimed that the owners and tenants had not obtained permission for the change in land use and subsequently used residential houses for commercial and business purposes.

It said it had taken up a survey after a Division Bench of the High Court had admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) petition on the violation of building norms and zoning regulations in Sadashivanagar.

No action taken

The PIL by the Sadashivanagar Residents’ Association had contended that several representations to the authorities had gone in vain and no action had been taken to set right the deviations.

The BBMP and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) had carried out a survey and submitted a report to the court.

When the BBMP started issuing notices under the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act, the residents had challenged them before the High Court.

While the BBMP claimed that the residents had not obtained permission from the BDA for change in land use, some owners and residents had said that they had been paying taxes at the commercial rate and that the establishments were set up years ago. Their contention was that no such permission was required as such conversions were permissible under the existing laws.

Justice Rammohan Reddy, who is hearing the petitions, adjourned hearing on the matter.

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