HC pulls BBMP chief over illegal structures

The high court asked the BBMP commissioner to explain why action should not be initiated against him for noncompliance with the court’s previous orders on illegal constructions  including deviations from the approved original plan. He was told to submit his explanation by October 31.

The court’s directive followed a petition filed by Jahagidar AA, owner of property number 3 in Ex-service Men’s Colony, RT Nagar, and others.  

On August 18, 2009, Prem, Jahagidar’s neighbour, marked the point for sinking a borewell just a few feet from the petitioner’s property. The next day, heavy vehicles came and workers started digging work which damaged Jahagidar’s compound wall. Prem also started digging pits and erecting pillars a little distance away from the Jahagidar’s property.

The petitioners contended that Prem was illegally constructing the third floor of his home without proper sanction. They also argued that although they had complained to BBMP officials, no action was taken to stop the construction work.

The high court, in its hearing on September 12, directed the commissioner to instruct the chief engineers of all the zones to collect information on illegal constructions and initiate disciplinary action and prosecution against errant jurisdictional officers.
It also wanted the report into the registry by Friday (September 21). When the case came up for hearing on Friday, the high court said there was no compliance of the September 12 order.
Petition against homestay attack accused dismissed

The high court on Friday disposed of a petition seeking action in the case related to attack on youngsters at a homestay in the outskirts of Mangalore in July. The court decision came after the government said a chargesheet has been filed against the accused. Vasudev, a city-based advocate, contended in his petition that on July 28 that some hooligans had attacked young men and women who were assembled at the home stay to celebrate a birthday.

The government’s counsel informed the court that a chargesheet has already been filed against the 44 accused. The division bench headed by chief justice Vikramajit Sen, while disposing of the case, observed that no further consideration was required since the chargesheet has already been filed.
Mazurier’s bail plea adjourned

The bail petition of Pascal Mazurier, the French Consulate official who was arrested on the charge of allegedly raping his four-year-old daughter, was adjourned by the high court to Monday. On July 27, the fast track court-I had rejected his bail petition on the ground that the investigation was not over yet and it was not the right time to entertain his request. Meanwhile, the court accepted the impleading application filed by Suja Jones, his wife, requesting that she should be heard in the bail petition.