HC orders Defence ministry to stop firing practice in Belagavi villages

The High Court on Tuesday restrained the Ministry of Defence from carrying out any firing practice in nine villages in Belagavi district. A division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice Ravi Malimath disposed of a PIL filed by Prabhakar R Kattimane and others.

The petitioners are residents and owners of the lands located in nine villages of Hangargi, Savgav, Benakanahalli, Mandoli, Navage, Belagundi, Bijagarni, Kuttaalavadi and Bokanar in Belagavi district. The petitioners had contended that the state government, without the authority of law, has passed an order on November 23, 2012 under Section 9 of the Manoeuvres, Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act, 1938.

The order permitted the Indian Army to carry out their training programme and to establish Field Firing Range in the name of Baghdad Asmara Field Firing Range in the land belonging to the petitioners and others.

The petitioners had said that on account of establishing Field Firing Range, their land was being used for training programme without acquisition and thus affecting their rights. The petitioners had sought directions to shift the Field Firing Range and Artillery Practice to Marihal and Ramadurga villages.