HC tells BBMP to ensure safety of staff quarters

The high court on Wednesday directed the BBMP commissioner to temporarily evict the occupants of a BBMP residential complex at Kumbaragundi, JC Road, until it is fit for human habitation.

A bench headed by Justice Ram Mohan Reddy was hearing a petition filed by a BBMP clerk that the building was in a dilapidated condition. The case has been adjourned to October 30.

S Seshagiri, a second division clerk at BBMP assistant commissioner’s office had filed a petition in the high court saying that he had made a request to the Mayor on August 8, 2011 seeking an allotment of alternative residence, because his present residence at Kumbaragundi was in dilapidated state.

On his request the BBMP’s allotment committee in a resolution (dated August 24, 2011), held that he deserves to be allotted house number 2 in B Block at Mission Road.

Seshagiri later moved to the house and also began paying rent to the BBMP. However, based on the letter to the deputy mayor, the assistant commissioner then passed an order (dated March 21,  2012) directing Seshagiri to shift his residence back to where he was earlier residing, and hand over the possession of current residence without a notice.

Seshagiri sought for an interim stay to that order. The high court in its previous hearing had asked the BBMP commissioner to personally inspect the building and submit a report.

When the case had come up for hearing on Wednesday, BBMP commissioner Rajneesh Goel was present and submitted that alternative arrangement would be made for the employees.

Justice Reddy observed, “Before any disaster occurs, corporation would be well advised to evict the occupants from the premises temporarily until the building is fit for human habitation.”

He further observed, “If any untoward happens to the life or property of the occupants until the corporation takes a decision in the matter, not only the corporation but the commissioner will be held personally responsible.”