HC summons chief secy if land loser not given plot

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday ordered the state government to obey its earlier order of allotting an alternative plot to a man whose land was acquired by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for extending a graveyard in Yelahanka.

A division bench of Justices Raghavendra Chauhan and H T Narendra Prasad summoned the chief secretary to the next hearing if the order is not obeyed. The court is hearing a contempt petition filed by S V Yogeshwar who claimed the BBMP acquired his farmland without following the due land acquisition process. The land had a borewell and was situated next to the graveyard.

Yogeshwar moved the court demanding action against the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner, saying he failed to give him an alternative piece of land despite the court's directions.

At the last hearing, the counsel for the government had stated that cabinet approval would be taken for providing alternative land to the man within a month. But on Tuesday, the counsel told the court that the cabinet had sought clarifications in the matter, delaying the approval. The court expressed strong disapproval of the government's delay in obeying its orders and adjourned the hearing until September 19.