File affidavit on pending Karnataka Administrative Tribunal cases: HC

The Karnataka High Court has directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner and Revenue Secretary to be present in the court for the next hearing in a public interest litigation (PIL) that alleged that Ubhaya Vedanta in Malleshwaram has violated BBMP building by-laws.

When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, the division bench directed that in the next hearing, the BBMP commissioner has to file an affidavit stating how many cases are pending in Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) regarding building by-law violations and details about the non-co-operation of officers.

The matter pertains to a PIL filed by the Malleshwaram Residents' Welfare Association regarding alleged zonal rules violation committed by Ubhaya Vedantha Pravarthana Sabha, a Vedha Patashala located on 10th cross, Malleshwaram.

The PIL claims that Vedantha has violated building rules by constructing a multi-storeyed building in a residential area. The counsel for BBMP stated that there are a lot of cases pending before KAT, but there is no proper order in the tribunal due to frequent transfer of members. BBMP also alleged that there is no co-ordination between administration and judicial officers in tribunal. The bench observed that they will direct the government to handover KAT to the High Court. The amicus curiae appointed by the High Court Shashikiran Shetty said that there is no co-operation and no action from BBMP regarding the matter.

The residents association in their petition had also contended that since there is a marriage hall in the third and fourth floor it is creating noise pollutions. In the previous hearings, High Court had repeatedly lashed out at BBMP officials for being negligent on the matter.