BBMP to outsource its legal work

The BBMP has a Legal Cell to handle its litigations. But the Palike Budget for 2010-11 has proposed to hire lawyers from outside in an attempt to ensure that the BBMP properties are protected from encroachments.

The Legal Cell has been at the receiving end for its lack of zest and dynamism, since the election of the new BBMP Council earlier this year.

Members and councillors, across party lines, have been critical of the Legal Cell, many terming its performance “pathetic” and some, half in jest and half in frustration terming it an “illegal” cell.

In the monthly session of the BBMP Council in the month of May, the hapless Legal Cell came in for some sharp flak from Mayor S K Nataraj. “You are simply doing a donkey’s job. I do not know whether you are dead or alive. You have grossly failed to protect Palike’s property,” an angry Mayor had told the members of the cell.

‘Revamping of cell’

The budget proposals for 2010-2011 placed before the Council on August 30 envisaged revamping of the cell with counsellors from outside the cell.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Chairman for the Finance and Taxation Committee P N Sadashiva said that while a new set of legal panelists are set to take charge, the outsourcing of more “critical” cases has been mentioned in the Budget. Reason: There is a serious lack of experienced hands in the BBMP legal department to handle the more important of the cases that are pending at various judicial levels.

‘Hiring experts’

“Last week we hired eight or nine legal experts for the BBMP legal panel. The revamping of the cell has been initiated. We will take further action in the coming days,” he said.

While the Cell is hiring more experienced legal eagles to represent the Palike, BBMP sources state that there is also a possibility in the future of the cell being disbanded altogether. “We are looking at those possibilities too for outsourcing the legal experts to handle the BBMP cases and reduce the burden at the Palike,” said a BBMP source.