Transformers on footpath: HC seeks affidavit from Bescom

The High Court on Tuesday sought to know from Bescom whether it can remove transformers from the City’s footpaths or not.

Hearing a PIL, a division bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri asked Bescom to submit an affidavit if it claims the transformers installed on the footpath were legal. The court asked the BBMP to file a report in a month and adjourned the matter until February 20.

Stay extended

The High Court has sought to know from the BBMP why a land under dispute with so many claimants was allotted to JD (Secular) for its office. Hearing a petition by K G Chandrashekhar Bhat who claimed the land allotted to JD(S) was granted to his mother, Justice B V Nagarathna observed there were too many parties claiming rights over the property and that she needed time to study the matter.

 The BBMP had passed a resolution allotting the property near Chowdiah memorial hall in Vyalikaval to JD(S) for its office. While Bhat has challenged the allotment, the BDA impleaded itself claiming ownership over the property. 

The Income Tax Department and Pramoda Devi, wife of the late Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the scion of Mysuru royal family, have also staked their claim over the land. While granting further stay on construction of the office, the court adjourned the matter until February 9.

Circus at Palace Grounds

The High Court has dismissed the petition filed by A K Premnath, promoter of Gemini and Jumbo circus, who had sought permission to hold the circus on Palace Grounds for 60 days. 

The government had contended the Palace Grounds cannot be given for more than three days for commercial activities or else it will cause huge problem not just for the environment but also congest traffic.

Akrama-Sakrama

The High Court has dismissed a batch of petitions which had challenged the Regularisation of Building Violation Regularisation (Akrama-Sakrama) Rules of 2007, in view of the State government coming out with the amended rules in May 2014.

Dismissing the petitions, a division bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri granted liberty to the petitioners to file a fresh petition with new grounds on the amended rules.

The government stated it had issued a notification on Regularisation of Building Violations (Akrama-Sakrama) Rules on Mary 28, 2014, amending the rules issued in 2007. 

It said it was yet to start issuing advertisements in newspapers inviting people to apply for the scheme.