Post-SC order, sale of land by HBCS under scanner again

Co-op dept allowed Society to sell land to builders without getting NoC

Close on the heels of the Supreme Court order that any acquired land cannot be given to builders, sale of such land at prime locations in the city to private developers by the National Technological Institute (NTI) House Building Co-operative Society has again been questioned.

In the case of Uddargagan Properties Ltd vs Sant Singh, the apex court held that releasing acquired land in favour of the builder amounts to acquisition for a private purpose.

A senior member from the NTIHBCS has questioned the sale of 26.5 acres of Society land to private builders at prime areas in the city.

Ramachandra Reddy, a senior member of the Society who has been waiting for a site for the last 20 years, claims that out of 19.32 acres allotted by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) at Nagashettihalli in RMV II stage, the Society sold 11.5 acres to LK Trust for Rs 5.64 crore.

The Trust sold the entire land to Raheja Builders for Rs 104 crore within a year. Luxury apartments have been built there by Raheja in the name of Pebblebay.

Similarly, the Society sold 10 acres of land, out of the 178.38 acres acquired by the government for public purpose in Sahakaranagar, to SBG Housing Pvt Ltd for Rs 10.5 crore.

The same land was later transferred to another private builder, Hiranandani. Huge apartment complexes are being constructed on this land.

It was the Co-operation department which permitted the Society to sell the land without obtaining No Objection Certificate from BDA and the Revenue department.

“We, the members of the Society, are waiting for sites for the past 25 years even after paying the full amount demanded by the Society at that time. We had filed several complaints with the Co-operation department and also Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. However, there has been no action, because it was all done in collusion with government officials. Now, as per the Supreme Court order both these acts of the Society, directly or indirectly, helped the builders benefit from government lands allotted to the Society,” Reddy said.

BDA Commissioner T Sham Bhatt told Deccan Herald that the complaint against NTI Society was being looked into.

“We have issued notice to the Society, seeking explanation. Further course of action will be decided after receiving the reply.”