HC asks government to file affidavit on steps taken to protect lakes

The High Court on Monday directed the government to file an affidavit on action taken to protect lakes in Anekal taluk in Bangalore Urban district.

Hearing a petition filed by Bharatiya Kissan Sangh, the division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice H G Ramesh directed the government to file an affidavit on steps taken to protect lakes.

The petitioner had contended that lakes had been polluted and some subjected to sand mining and clay extraction.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, questioned by the court in its earlier hearing why it had failed to prevent the pollution of water bodies, submitted that there had been industrial pollution with effluents being discharged directly into the lakes.

The bench directed the government to file an affidavit stating the action taken to protect the water bodies.

The petitioner had alleged that all the lakes were filled with garbage and many were excavated for sand and soil to manufacture bricks and others had become illegal garbage dumping yards.

Mentioning that all the lakes had lost hundreds of acres to land sharks and that the officials were helpless against them, as encroachers were influential persons, the court suggested to the petitioners to form a citizen action committee to monitor the water bodies.

PG seats

The State government is contemplating withdrawing the exemption of 25 per cent PG seats given to a few deemed universities in 2010.

During the hearing of a petition by Yenepoya University seeking exemption from surrendering the seats, the division bench comprising Justice K L Manjunath and Justice Ravi Malimath adjourned the matter after recording the statement made by the government counsel.

The counsel submitted that the government was contemplating withdrawing the 2010 exemption granted to the two varsities of NITTE and Yenepoya.

KPSC action

The High Court on Monday ordered notice to the State government in connection with a petition filed by the Karnataka Public Service Commission member Mangala Sridhar challenging the action against her.

Hearing a petition by Sridhar challenging her suspension in connection with 2011 gazetted probationers recruitment scam, Justice Narayanaswamy has ordered notice to the State government.

Hearing adjourned

The High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a petition seeking to stop collection of the revised toll at the toll booth en route to Kempegowda International Airport.

During the hearing, the counsel for the National Highway Authority of India sought more time to file its objections to the PIL.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice H G Ramesh adjourned the hearing of the matter.

Yettinahole project

The High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking the withdrawal of the Yettinahole project to supply water from the west-flowing rivers to the parched areas in Tumkur and Kolar districts.

Petitioner K N Somashekar had moved the court seeking the withdrawal of the project stating that forests would be affected if the project was implemented.

When the matter came up before the division bench, it was dismissed as withdrawn.