The Karnataka State Board of Wakfs (KSBW) has approached the Supreme Court challenging the State government’s proposed move to allot 15 acres of land to secretariat employees in Bengaluru.
An SC bench of Justices J S Khehar and S A Bobde put the application for consideration on January 16 after the State government counsel sought time to respond to the plea made by senior advocate S Guru Krishnakumar on behalf of the KSBW.
The board also urged the court to ensure maintenance of status quo with regard to its lands in Bellahalli, Yelahanka hobli, Bengaluru North, comprising 602 acres and 29 guntas, dedicated more than two centuries ago by Tipu Sultan to the ruler of the then princely state of Mysuru.
“The government is proceeding with the construction at the land and considering that the land is of a substantial extent (15 acres), and improvement of land by the government shall cause serious and irreparable damage to the petitioner board’s claim to the land in question,” the application filed by advocate S Hari Haran stated.
It pointed out a letter issued on December 17, 2013, by the deputy commissioner, Bengaluru, to allot the land to the government secretariat employees.
The matter with regard to claims of the board over 600 acres of land is pending with the apex court. The board has challenged the Karnataka High Court order dated December 5, 2012, dismissing their claims.
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