BENGALURU: Observing that the authorities have no respect for the rule of law, the High Court on Wednesday directed the Revenue Department’s principal secretary to keep Assistant Commissioner of Bengaluru South sub division and tahsildar of Bengaluru South taluk, under suspension.
This was after hearing the petitions filed by one S C Gokarna and C Munireddy against the orders passed by the tahsildar and the Assistant Commissioner to take possession of their land.
Staying all further proceedings, Justice Ravi Malimath issued this direction as both the officials, allegedly demolished the compound wall and a few houses built on the petitioners’ land, which was acquired for Metro rail in Kothanur, without giving them opportunity to file an appeal against their orders. The judge also issued notices to the Managing Director, BMRCL and the Land Acquisition Officer, Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB).
According to the petitioners, they had purchased some portion of the total 55 acres of land in Kotthanur during 2006-08. They later constructed a compound wall around their lands. Meanwhile, KIADB notified their lands for Metro rail project.
Amid this, the tahsildar passed the order that the petitioners occupied the land unauthorisedly, which is disputed. The petitioners then approached the Assistant Commissioner, who also upheld the tahsildar’s order on May 26. He also ordered for cancellation of RTC (Records of Rights and Tenancy and Crops) and to take possession of their lands. The authorities then demolished the wall and some houses on the said land on May 27.