BENGALURU: The High Court on Tuesday asked the BBMP authorities if there is any compensation mechanism in place for the people who lost their houses overnight in the demolition drive launched by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in the city.
During the hearing of the petitions filed by officials against whom the BBMP has initiated action for allowing unauthorised constructions on rajakaluves, Justice Anand Byrareddy asked if there is a compensation mechanism in place.
“Where do these people (who lost their houses) go for cover? Is there any compensation mechanism? Nobody is talking about these aspects,” Justice Byrareddy said.
He also asked the BMTF not to arrest or harass BBMP officials T Nataraj, Joint Director (North), Chowde Gowda, retired director of Town and Country Planning, and Mohammed Abdul Azeem, retired assistant executive engineer with PWD, in connection with the ongoing demolition drive.
Advocate M S Bhagwat argued that Azeem was not in the BDA at the relevant point of time and so could not have been arraigned as an accused.
Justice Byrareddy disposed of the petition filed by S N Builders and Developers and its managing partner Shah Sanjay, while restraining BBMP and BMTF from taking any coercive action against them or the multi-storeyed apartment building built by them as long as the sanction plan given to them in relation to those constructions at Bilekahalli stood valid.
Bhagwat, the counsel for the petitioners, contended that there is no cognisable offence against the petitioners. He also argued that the BMTF is in a fix as they have sent a communication seeking clarification as to which one — the century old village map or the master plan — should be taken into consideration while determining the cases at hand.
The government advocate informed the court that the demolition has been launched against encroachments on rajakaluves and no action is being taken against buildings that are within the buffer zone as the issue is still pending before the Supreme Court.