Family not allotted BDA site even after HC order

For 60-year-old Shanthamma and family, their decade-long battle for a BDA site seems to be an endless ordeal.

Even after winning the legal battle, the hapless family has been running from pillar to post to get a site in lieu of the revenue site given to the BDA to develop Sir MV Layout in 2004.

Shantamma owned a 30x40 sq ft revenue site in Muddinapalya, but the BDA acquired the site for the formation of Sir MV Layout in 2004. When she had purchased the site, she had paid Rs three lakh to register it. After acquisition, the BDA offered her an alternative site in the same layout but asked her to pay Rs 11,16,500 to register it in her name. After the layout was formed, her original site was given to Gundappa, another allottee, for Rs three lakh. 

The family strongly opposed the move and argued that it is not fair that another allottee is being given the site at the same rate, when they were being asked to pay more. “BDA did not accept any of our requests and justifications. They refused to entertain us and then we had to approach the court. The High Court, on October 28, 2014, directed BDA to look into the matter and give Shantamma an alternative site at the same price. The court had given the BDA three weeks time for this. But it has been over three months now and till date we have no site in hand,” N Shivakumar (32), son of Shantamma, told Deccan Herald.

The family is presently staying in a rented home in SGV Nagar, Nagarabhavi. Shivakumar said, “We want a site, even if BDA gives one in another layout it is fine, but we should not be asked to pay more for it.” The family is planning to file contempt petition against BDA in the High Court as the officials have failed to comply with the court orders and even failed to explain the reasons for the delay.”

Reacting to this, BDA commissioner T Sham Bhatt said that he would look into the matter and that Shanthamma would be alloted a site soon. But for this, they would have to register with BDA, which is the procedure, he said.