HC extends status quo on Lalbagh parking lot

The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday extended the status quo on the construction of a parking lot in the Lalbagh Botanical Garden.

The petitioner — S Vasudeva , a city-based advocate has contended that the parking lot being constructed on the five acre plot was posing a threat to the garden.

He had also claimed that the space selected for the parking lot was close to Kempegowda tower, a protected monument of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Illegal construction

“The construction, within a radius of 300 metre of the monument is a violation of Archeological Survey of India  Rules and Sections 6 and 8 of the Karnataka Park, Play-fields and Open Spaces (Preservation and Regulation) Act, 1985. The respondents, including officials of the departments concerned, are liable for imprisonment for a period of up to six months if the violation was proved,” he has stated.

The public interest litigation claimed that no permission had been obtained from the competent authority for the construction of the parking lot to accommodate 500 cars.

The Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice K Sreedhar Rao and Justice B V Nagarathna ordered status quo until further orders.