BENGALURU: The High Court on Tuesday rapped the BBMP for failing to clear encroachments from footpaths and sought an action-taken report along with photographs within 15 days.
Hearing a petition filed by Jennifer Pinto and Priya Rao, a division bench headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice R B Budihal directed the BBMP to remove all encroachments on footpaths without succumbing to any political pressure.
The petitioners had sought directions to the authorities to clear footpaths for the safety of pedestrians.
The bench had directed the BBMP in July to remove all encroachments from footpaths within three months.
On Tuesday, the court observed that even after several orders and directions, the authorities have not acheived the target of clearing footpaths.
BBMP commissioner M Lakshminaraya submitted to the court details on the number of encroachments they have removed till date. The counsel of the petitioners submitted photographs of various areas where footpaths are still encroached.
Taking note of the photographs, the court asked the BBMP to use its authority and police protection to remove all encroachments.
The court further directed the BBMP to put the onus of clearing encroachments on the chief executive engineers of all the eight zones and asked the commissioner to monitor the works.
It also asked the commissioner to initiate action against officials who have failed to discharge their duty.