HC frowns on secrecy in Aero Space project

During the hearing of a petition challenging acquisition of land for the project, Justice Shylendra Kumar noted that the State had not provided any information on the companies involved in the project.

“We want to know what kind of people are involved in the project. It could be anyone, even terrorist groups and gangsters. The State is taking high risk by not disclosing the information,” the Court noted.

The State Government submitted that it had paid Rs 370 crore as compensation for acquiring 1,069 acres spread over seven villages in Devanahalli and Bangalore North taluks.

Matekarunnisa and others had filed a petition alleging that the land acquired by Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board was not required for public purpose.

Notice on ‘G’ sites

The High Court has ordered notice to around 250 allottees of ‘G’ category sites in a petition challenging allotment of sites.

S Vasudeva, a Bangalore-based advocate had filed a petition questioning allotment of ‘G’ category sites to 250 beneficiaries including elected representatives between February 2, 2006 and October 8, 2007. He had claimed that the allotment was illegal and violated the rules and procedures of Bangalore Development Authority.

According to the petitioner, 234 sites were allotted during the tenure of S M Krishna as chief minister, 76 sites by the Dharam Singh government, and 238 sites by H D Kumaraswamy.  The present Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has allotted sites to 132 persons during the period from April 2008 to December 2009.

Ministers as respondents

Ministers R Ashoka, Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, M P Renukacharya, Murugesh Nirani, Lakshman S Savadi, Dr V S Acharya, Speaker K G Bopaiah, Lok Sabha members D V Sadananda Gowda, Prahlad Joshi etc, have been arrayed as respondents in the petition. The Division Bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar ordered notice.

The High Court had recently held that the State Government had no power or authority to grant sites to anyone under ‘G’ category.