'G' category sites: Objections sought

The High Court on Thursday directed all the respondents to file objections by February 21, in a PIL pertaining to the allotment of ‘G’ category sites by the BDA.

 

A petition had been filed by a City-based advocate challenging the allotment of BDA sites under 'G' category to 250 persons, including ministers, MPs, MLAs and MLCs.

The petitioner, S Vasudeva, has challenged the BDA’s allotment of sites under ‘G’ category between February 2, 2006 and October 8, 2007. Another petition, which was filed on similar grounds and involving 66 respondents, has been clubbed with the original petition and is being heard by a division bench comprising Justice K Bhaktavatsala and Justice K Govindrajulu.

Filing objections in the matter, one of the respondents, Justice H G Ramesh, submitted that he had applied in June 2005 for a stray site with the BDA in accordance with the norms laid down. 

The BDA, in February 2007, allotted him a site in HSR Layout as per the BDA (Allotment of site) Rules, 1984. Neither he nor his wife and children had any other site or house allotted to them by BDA. 

He submitted that he had not made any false declaration to obtain the site and there was no abuse of power. Justice Ramesh declared that neither he nor his family owned any other property in the Bangalore Metropolitan area. He submitted that he has so far spent a total of Rs 50.72 lakh on the purchase, stamp duty and construction of a house on the allotted site.

The petitioner had contended that the allotment was illegal and against the rules. He said that these sites were allotted without receiving any applications from the 250 people, while thousands of people waiting for sites were neglected. 

Notice to CBFCThe High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and Nityananda in a case pertaining to rejection of approval to two songs from the film ‘Sathyananda’.Madan Patel, the director of the film, had sent two songs to the CBFC for approval, but since there was a stay by a lower court on going ahead with any aspect of the film, which allegedly mirrored the life of godman Nityananda, the CBFC rejected permission for both the songs. 

Madan Patel approached the High Court challenging the rejection of the two songs. Justice Venugopala Gowda has issued notices to both CBFC and Nityananda in the matter. The case has been adjourned.