HC gives BBMP one month to enlarge its legal panel

The Karnataka High Court directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner to engage more advocates to handle its cases in a month’s time.

Justice Raghavendra S Chauhan, while hearing a petition, came down heavily on the BBMP’s legal cell for not appearing in matters where BBMP is a party. The judge directed the BBMP commissioner to expand the panel and list the lawyers who are known for their legal acumen and integrity.

K D Deshpande, legal adviser to BBMP submitted to the court that of the 24 advocates on the BBMP legal panel, only 14 counsel are actively practising. Justice Chauhan in his order said, “Considering the large number of cases pending against BBMP, a panel of merely 14 counsel is too small.” 

Justice Chauhan in his order said, “Needless to say, Bengaluru not only represents the capital of the state, but is among the metropolitan cities of the country. The problems of the city cannot be resolved in a legal forum, unless BBMP has a strong team of lawyers defending its interests…. Although Bengaluru was known as a Garden City, it has slowly but surely acquired a reputation of a city which is beset with glaring problems.’’

Justice Chauhan said BBMP may find it difficult to deal with these problems and to resolve the challenges without a team of intelligent, articulate and knowledgeable lawyers. Thus, it would be in the interest of the city and certainly in the interest of the BBMP to enlarge its panel of lawyers. He directed legal adviser Deshpande to ensure at least two counsel from the panel be present in the court so that the court will have ample assistance from them on behalf of BBMP.