The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Diamond District case adjourned

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Saturday, Dec 01, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Diamond District case adjourned

Staff Reporter

Judge expresses displeasure at inaction
Tourism Secretary had filed a report on the deal

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Friday adjourned further hearing on the case in which it had given time to the State to initiate action and file an action taken report against officials responsible for the alleged irregularities committed in the acquisition of land on Airport Road in Kodihalli, Bangalore.

The court was dealing with cases relating to the acquisition of land in Diamond District.

Justice Rammohan Reddy, who is hearing the case, had during earlier hearings expressed displeasure that successive governments and officials had, for 18 years, chosen to close their eyes to the fraud committed by some persons on the land. He said although the land was originally acquired for the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), it had been assigned to a private person by flouting all rules. He said although the KSTDC Board was against the handing over of the land to a private entrepreneur, the then Managing Director had approved it.

Action had not been taken so far against the official. He had called for the Government to file a report. The report filed by Secretary of Tourism I.M. Vittalamurthy, states that the entire transaction relating to the land appears to have been taken to help an agreement holder violate the Land Acquisition Act and the Land Rules.

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