Warrant against BBMP chief

The order to issue the NBW comes in the wake of repeated failures by the BBMP to implement an earlier High Court order to allocate an alternative commercial site to Prakash, the petitioner, whose property was taken away before the completion of the lease period.

A businessman from Timber Yard layout, Prakash had moved the High Court against what he alleged was the BBMP’s “lethargic” attitude in allocating the promised lease land on an order of the High Court. On Monday, Justice Ram Mohan Reddy directed newly appointed BBMP Commissioner Bharatlal Meena to be present at the next hearing.

The BBMP had leased the land to Prakash for a period of 30 years. But the Palike took it back even 10 years before the expiry of the lease period. After Prakash’s petition was admitted, the High Court had directed the BBMP to consider his demand for an alternative site. 

However, the directions did not move the BBMP to act. When Prakash brought this to the notice of the Court, a second order directing the BBMP to act was passed. But when the Palike failed to comply with the second order, Justice Reddy ordered on June 29 that a show cause be served on the BBMP.

BBMP officials submitted that they were yet to identify an alternative site for the petitioner and said that they will comply with the June 29 order. Not impressed by the response, Justice Reddy ordered that an NBW be issued against the Commissioner who will now have to appear before the judge on July 27.