<p>Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Monday ordered notices to the state government, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and the Bengaluru police in a PIL petition concerning the maintenance of roads and footpaths in the city.</p>.<p>A division bench of acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice CM Joshi directed the authorities to submit their responses and adjourned the hearing until September 24.</p>.<p>The petition, filed by Bengaluru-based NGO Letzkit Foundation, sought directions for proper maintenance of roads and footpaths without obstructions and in compliance with the provisions under the Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act.</p>.<p>It submitted that in 2021, a PIL petition with similar prayers was disposed of, observing that directions had already been issued to the authorities concerned.</p>.Just sending profane messages does not amount to stalking: Karnataka HC.<p>The petition stated that even three years later, the authorities have failed to act in accordance with those directions.</p>.<p>The petitioner pointed out that many footpaths are not user-friendly for people with disabilities, while some have been fenced to raise gardens, put up barricades, extended for business premises, used for constructing religious places, parking vehicles, storing construction materials, and for the construction of public toilets, transformers and drinking water facilities.</p>.<p>The petitioner submitted photographs depicting obstructions and encroachments on the footpaths.</p>.<p>“...the corporation has a statutory duty to ensure that the roads as well as the footpaths are properly maintained. However, the factual position is the reverse of it and the position has remained the same notwithstanding the directions given by this court as well as the hope expressed in the writ petition earlier preferred by this very petitioner,” the petition said.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Monday ordered notices to the state government, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and the Bengaluru police in a PIL petition concerning the maintenance of roads and footpaths in the city.</p>.<p>A division bench of acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice CM Joshi directed the authorities to submit their responses and adjourned the hearing until September 24.</p>.<p>The petition, filed by Bengaluru-based NGO Letzkit Foundation, sought directions for proper maintenance of roads and footpaths without obstructions and in compliance with the provisions under the Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act.</p>.<p>It submitted that in 2021, a PIL petition with similar prayers was disposed of, observing that directions had already been issued to the authorities concerned.</p>.Just sending profane messages does not amount to stalking: Karnataka HC.<p>The petition stated that even three years later, the authorities have failed to act in accordance with those directions.</p>.<p>The petitioner pointed out that many footpaths are not user-friendly for people with disabilities, while some have been fenced to raise gardens, put up barricades, extended for business premises, used for constructing religious places, parking vehicles, storing construction materials, and for the construction of public toilets, transformers and drinking water facilities.</p>.<p>The petitioner submitted photographs depicting obstructions and encroachments on the footpaths.</p>.<p>“...the corporation has a statutory duty to ensure that the roads as well as the footpaths are properly maintained. However, the factual position is the reverse of it and the position has remained the same notwithstanding the directions given by this court as well as the hope expressed in the writ petition earlier preferred by this very petitioner,” the petition said.</p>