Poor footpaths: HC warns action against BBMP engineers

The High Court on Monday warned of stringent action against engineers of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for dereliction of duty and failing to implement the court’s earlier orders to make the City’s footpaths pedestrian friendly. 

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by some residents of Bangalore, a division bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri lashed out at the BBMP after its counsel sought more time to submit its reply to the court’s directions.

“Youcan implement the directions within 15 days, but we gave you three months, still you want more time,” the bench thundered. The Palike’s counsel said that half of the 1,200 footpaths in the City had been repaired and made user friendly following the court’s order. “The rest will be covered in three months and a detailed report will be filed later on,” he said. 

But the bench was not impressed. “Your corporation is cutting a sorry figure. You have been granted statutory powers. Maintenence is your duty. There are several PILs stating that BBMP is doing nothing. You are not serious,” the bench said and adjourned that matter.