KIC tells BDA to trace 'missing file' on Uttarahalli land

Taking exception to records often going missing in Bangalore Development Authority, the Karnataka Information Commission has directed the Superintendent of Police of the BDA’s Special Vigilance Force to investigate and produce a “missing file” related to a piece of land near Poorna Prajna Layout in Uttarahalli.

This is the first time since its inception that the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) has exercised its special powers under Section 9 (3) of the RTI Act-2005. In his August 5 order, State Information Commissioner L Krishna Murthy directed Superintendent of Police K V Jagadish to trace the missing files in two months and produce them before him during the next hearing on January 5, 2017.

The 11-acre-11-gunta land in Survey Number 81 of Uttarahalli village was initially reserved for constructing residential quarters for the economically weaker sections. The BDA refused to utilise the land saying it was a hillock and a layout cannot be formed there.

Surprisingly, the same piece of land was later allotted to an educational institution belonging to an influential politician. It raised many eyebrows.

In this connection, Wing Commander (Retd) G Balakrishna Athri filed an RTI application with the BDA on October 17, 2012, seeking details about the acquisition of the said land.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Athri said the land was initially granted for building quarters for the economically weaker sections residing in the nearby slums.

However, the BDA gave up the land saying it was a hillock and a residential layout cannot be developed there.

“Somehow, the land reached an educational institution said to be belonging to an influential politician,” said Athri.

Two months after filing the RTI application in 2012, Athri approached the Karnataka Information Commission with an appeal to help him get the desired information. He is yet to get any information, although the commission had imposed a penalty of Rs 10,000 on a retired assistant commissioner in the BDA and repeatedly directed the Town Planning member of the BDA to furnish complete information to the appellant ‘without further delay’.