BENGALURU: The High Court on Wednesday stated that there is a need to hear the petitions challenging the Akrama-Sakrama scheme in detail on merit.
A division bench of officiating Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice B Manohar issued notices to all the respondents, including the Urban Development Department, after admitting a batch of public interest litigation challenging the scheme.
The bench, however, observed that the scheme, introduced to regularise unauthorised construction, is apparently “dangerous.”
“What kind of scheme is this and under whose patronage are indiscriminate constructions allowed? Allowing unauthorised construction and amending rules to regularise the same is dangerous,” the bench said.
In reply, Additional Advocate General A S Ponnanna told the court that the scheme was a one-time measure, and unauthorised constructions were being regularised with a limited extent by levying a certain amount as penalty.
The bench adjourned the hearing to January 18 and asked the respondents to file objections, if any.
The state government brought out the Akrama-Sakrama scheme by amending the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act-1961, Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act-1976 and Karnataka Municipalities Act-1964 to regularise illegal layouts and buildings.
The petitions were filed by Citizens’ Forum for Mangalore Development, Federation of JP Nagar 7th and 8th Residents’ Welfare Association and others.