The High Court on Tuesday permitted the Karnataka State Highway Implementation Project (KSHIP), the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL) and contractors to undertake civil works with regard to road-widening projects between Gubbi and Maddur in Tumkur division. However, it issued a restraint on felling trees.
A division Bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna passed the order on a suo motu PIL, based on a letter to the HC written by G T Arun Kumar, a resident of Tumkur, challenging the Tumkur City Municipal Council’s notification to uproot 4,153 trees for road-widening.
He alleged that the project, which proposes to widen the state highways, has failed to assess the density of vehicles that ply on the road.
The bench directed KSHIP to submit a representation to the local Deputy Conservator of Forest, who is also the tree officer, in case trees need to be felled.
The Bench observed that trees can be cut if it is absolutely necessary and proper permits from the authorities concerned must be sought before uprooting any.
Earlier, during the hearing, counsel for the state said that new guidelines were formed to seek permission for tree-cutting.
The Bench adjourned the case for further hearing.
Parking Woes Drive Residents to Court
Bangalore: The High Court on Tuesday asked petitioners to file a memo showing the violations following PIL seeking to shift the sub-registrar office from Jayanagar. The petitioner residents claim there are parking issues in the area due to the presence of the office.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela asked the petitioners to show any violation in the sub-registrar office being situated in a residential area and adjourned the case to Wednesday.
HC Bench Redirects Petitioner
Bangalore: The High Court on Tuesday directed a BJP corporator, who is the petitioner, to go back to the bench which passed an interim order directing the BBMP to reserve posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Scheduled Tribe candidates.
A division Bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna passed the order to approach the same single judge bench and disposed of an appeal filed by BBMP corporator Katte Satyanarayana challenging the order to have reservation for ST candidates for the posts.
The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the interim order by the court came much before and by then, the BBMP had already issued a notification announcing elections on February 8 and the calendar of events was announced on April 19.
The bench questioned how the BBMP can issue a notification even before making a reservation list and directed the petitioner to approach the single judge bench and get the appeal disposed.
The court, on April 19, passed an interim order directing both the state government and the BBMP to reserve posts for Scheduled Tribes.
Later, an appeal was filed challenging the order where Chief Justice referred the matter to the same bench.