Don't take policy decisions, HC tells BBMP administrator

The High Court on Monday directed the newly appointed BBMP administrator T M Vijaya Bhaskar not to take any policy decision and exercise any power under the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976 till the petition challenging the dissolution of BBMP is heard on Wednesday.

While granting the interim prayer, Justice Arvind Kumar directed the government counsel to submit all documents including the report submitted by IAS officer Rajendra Kumar Kataria on the malpractice in BBMP, CAG report, Upalokayukta report and other documents cited as reasons for the dissolution of BBMP to be produced before the court in the next hearing.

The petitioners, Mohan Kumar and two others, have contended that the State government’s decision to supersede the elected body and dissolve the corporation is in utter disregard to the principles of natural justice. The show cause notice issued on March 18 based on Kataria’s report and newspaper reports were not based on charges and it was against the Supreme Court directions. The government did not have any justification to supersede and dissolve the BBMP Council four days ahead of its tenure, they added. The bench adjourned the next hearing to Wednesday.