BENGALURU: The High Court on Wednesday stayed the state government’s orders to handover two acres out of 20 acres belonging to Abhiman Studio at Mylasandra near Kengeri for a memorial to Kannada actor Vishnuvardhan.
Hearing the petition filed by B Ganesh and B Srinivas, sons of veteran Kannada actor T N Balakrishna, Justice Anand Byrareddy passed the interim order staying the two notifications issued on September 18 and 22 to handover the land to Vishnuvardhan Pratistana.
Justice Byrareddy issued notices to the Principal Secretary to the Revenue Department, Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner and Member Secretary of Vishnuvardhan Pratistana asking them to file objections, if any.
The brothers contended that the state government’s action is arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional. Their right cannot be taken away merely on the whims and fancies of the state. The procedures were thrown to the wind and the orders were depriving their right over the property, they said.
The brothers also informed the court that the district administration had summoned them, their nephew Karthik, and sister Geetha Bali to the chamber of the Director of the Department of Information and asked them to sign on a prepared ‘consent letter’ dated July 23, 2015.
They were told that if they decline to waive their right, the entire property will be forfeited in favour of the government.
Not in a position to retract, they signed on the white paper. Karthik was also forced to sign, they said in the petition.
The brothers also contended that the said consent letter was written like a release deed, stipulating that both the brothers, their nephew and sister are relinquishing their rights over the two acres for the establishing memorial.
The document is silent on the compensation and it was not executed in accordance with law.
Such being the case, taking advantage of the said document, the principal secretary to the Revenue Department has passed an order directing the Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner to take two acres in favour of the government, and grant it to the Pratistana.
Subsequently, the deputy commissioner has passed an order granting two acres to the Pratistana free of cost, they said.
Shown as Dead
Srinivas, son of actor Balakrishna, said he was shown as dead in the government order on September 22, 2015. However, his signature has been taken on the ‘Consent Letter’ dated July 23, relinquishing the said land.