The High Court on Monday directed that a status report be filed by a committee that it had constituted last year to identify locations under BBMP limits for building additional residential quarters for its judges.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna passed the order on a PIL filed by a group of residents of HSR Layout challenging a plan to build judges’ quarters on a public park in the area. The committee, which had been constituted by the then CJ Vikramjit Sen, had submitted its report in April 2012. The committee had identified four places, but no further work was done, which prompted the Bench to seek a status report. The Bench then adjourned the case.
In its report, the committee has said that it has dropped sites identified at Hennur, Banaswadi and Yelahanka after a detailed review on the grounds that the ambience
of the locations is not favourable for construction of quarters for judges. It then identified other locations—Byrathikhane village, K R Puram Hobli (Arkavathy Layout), Bhoopasandra, Nagawara village (HBR 3rd Stage) and Yellikunte (HSR Layout).
The committee explained that the land at Arkavathy Layout spanned eight acres and was about 14 km away from the HC. Moreover, the property was free from encumbrance and is under the custody of the BDA. The committee stated it was awaiting the HC’s clearance to take up construction of the quarters at Arkavathy Layout.
The report also explained that the sites at Bhoopasandra, Nagawara village (HBR 3rd Stage) and Yellikunte (HSR Layout) are under litigation and construction will start once legal obstacles are cleared. “All efforts will be initiated to resolve the pending court cases for the remaining three lands. Action will be taken to implement the project as and when the lands are declared free of litigation,” the report said.
Notice to Govt over Forgery Case
The court on Monday issued a notice to the State government over a petition seeking a CBI probe into a case of alleged forgery of documents relating to a property near Ulsoor. An IPS officer is involved in the case.
Justice A S Bopanna issued the notice on a petition filed by T A Harish, a Frazer Town resident. Harish stated that the Ulsoor police, while investigating a complaint about the forged property documents, had deliberately not named an IPS officer thought an accused in the case took the officer’s name, he said. Justice Bopanna issued notices to the Secretary, Home Department and the Ulsoor police to file objections.