Palike funds to plant saplings not enough, High Court told

Amicus curiae Vaishali Hegde submitted to the High Court on Monday that the BBMP had not made any provision for planting fresh saplings in its budget for 2014-2015.

Hegde said that ideally, planting of saplings has to start with the onset of monsoon and conclude by July. But there is an unacceptable delay in awarding contracts as the plan of work is approved only in December. This does not facilitate the survival of the saplings.

A division bench comprising Justice D H Waghela and Justice H G Ramesh was hearing a suo motu PIL.

Hegde submitted that there is ad hoc management of old plantations.  Though funds are allotted, the release for actual work is less. There is also shortage of staff, she said.

The BBMP advocate submitted that for 2012-2013, BBMP has planted over 1.77 lakh saplings and for the current year, Palike is planning to plant 1.60 lakh saplings.

The court directed the BBMP advocate to go through the report filed by the amicus curiae and come out with a solution. It adjourned the hearing to June 27.

Accompany accused in bailable cases, police told

The High Court has asked City Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar, who was present before the court, as to why the police were not accompanying the accused in bailable warrant cases.

During a hearing, a division bench comprising Justices K L Manjunath and Ravi Malimath observed that police had no respect for the court and did not read the notices given to them. The bench said that they only get the signature of the accused and send them to court. The bench directed the commissioner that henceforth, if a bailable warrant is issued, the accused has to be produced along with the policemen. It wanted a circular to be issued so that the order is implemented across the State.