The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Encroached Muzrai property recovered

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 26, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Encroached Muzrai property recovered

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department recently took possession of a piece of land and the Prasanna Gangadhareshwara temple and its choultry near Yeshwantpur Circle here, which was illegally occupied.

The department has appointed the Assistant Commissioner, Endowment Works, Corporation Zone, Bangalore, as the administrator of the temple. The recovered property is worth over Rs. 30 crore.

A press release from the department said that Y.N. Srinivasa, assistant executive engineer of the Public Works Department, who was on deputation to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), had encroached upon the property. Mr. Srinivasa had encroached upon the property and got it transferred in his name misusing his official position. Later, he got the property transferred to his elder brother Ashwathama and sisters Padma and Jayalakshmi. They had constructed commercial complexes on the land.

Apart from getting the property transferred in the names of his brother and sisters, Mr. Srinivasa took possession of the temple, which was renovated with public funding. The proceeds from the temple were going to him.

During an inquiry by the department, he failed to produce any document supporting the ownership of the property, in 2003. The department then passed an order taking possession of the property and the temple and appointed an administrator, the press release said.

Challenging this order, Mr. Srinivasa and Mr. Ashwathama filed writ petitions in the Karnataka High Court. After five-and-a-half years, N. Kumar, judge, dismissed the petitions and upheld the Government Order on September 9.

Following the High Court order, the department again appointed an administrator.

The press release said that regular rituals at the temple were going on and notices had been issued to those occupying the commercial complex to pay rent to the department.

Endowment Commissioner K.S. Prabhakara told The Hindu that the department would recommend criminal action against Mr. Srinivasa and his brother and sisters.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka