HC pulls up BBMP over non-sanctioned building

The Karnataka High Court pulled up the BBMP for inaction in a matter regarding the construction of a non-sanctioned building in Arekere.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar were hearing a petition filed by Sunil Kumar, a resident of Hulimavu, who had moved the court seeking a stay on the illegal construction.

The bench issued an emergent notice to D Ramachandar, a resident of Arekere, and the BBMP in this regard.  

According to the petitioner, Ramachandar began work on September 14, 2017 by constructing pillars for the building over a storm water drain. Within a span for three months, three floors  of the building were constructed and no proper curing had been done.

This posed a threat to the residents  in the vicinity as the building was constructed in a tank bund area having loose soil and is prone to damage during natural calamities, Kumar said.  

The petitioner further said that Ramachandar has not obtained the approval of the building plan from the Palike. He alleged that no licence or commencement certificate had been issued by the BBMP as the building does not bear the A Khata number.

Also, no BBMP officials had visited the site of construction and no notices have been issued to Ramachandar, he added.  

'Lawless land'  

Justice Ramesh orally observed that there is no rule of law in this land and it has become a 'jungle raj'.

It is the duty of the BBMP to keep a check on illegal constructions, he said. The judge suggested that the BBMP should do surprise checks on similar non-sanctioned constructions.

The BBMP's counsel said that a notice for the stay on the construction has already been issued. To this, the petitioners' counsel replied that the work is still in progress.

The bench observed that any construction that is non-sanctioned and violates the law will be demolished, and  directed the BBMP to file their statement of objections with regard to the action they have take in the  case.