Inspect staff quarters, HC to BBMP

The High Court has directed the BBMP commissioner to personally inspect BBMP staff residential quarters complex located at Kumbaragundi near JC Road and file a report by Friday on the condition of the structure.

The court on Tuesday issued this direction following a complaint filed by the BBMP clerk that it was in a dilapidated condition.
S Sheshagiri, a second division clerk at the office of the assistant commissioner, was residing at quarter no 3 of BBMP residential complex at Kumbaragundi.

He alleged that the complex was in a poor condition and had requested the mayor to allot him an alternate accommodation, preferably residence no 2 in BBMP residential ‘B’ block on Mission Road, as it was vacant.

After receiving Sheshagiri’s complaint, the assistant executive engineer had carried out an inspection of the Kumbaragundi complex and observed that the walls of the 40-year-old building were in a dilapidated condition.

The committee for the allotment of residences in BBMP held a proceeding on August 24, 2011 and passed a resolution that Sheshagiri’s complaint was genuine and an alternate premises be allotted to him.

In his note the BBMP assistant executive engineer (Kempegowda nagar sub division) M Srinivasamurthy had also written that on  August 19, 2011 he had conducted an inspection of residence no 3 and found that the building, which has five houses, was in a dilapidated condition.

On his recommendation, the BBMP’s committee for the allotment of residences on August 24, 2011 recommended that Sheshgiri be allotted a residence at B block on Mission Road. BBMP assistant executive engineer made an order of allotment in this regard to  Sheshagiri.

The problem started when the then deputy mayor S Harish and then ruling party leader BR Nanjundappa and other corporators, wrote a letter to BBMP to cancel the allotment and directed Sheshagiri to reoccupy Kumbaragundi premises. They alleged that Sheshagiri had given a false report regarding the building’s condition.

Harish recommended that the B block on Mission Road residence be allotted to BBMP administrator (ARO JC Nagar sub-division) BS Sunanda. In a letter (dated January 21) to Deputy commissioner (administration) she had stated that since she was a Group B employee, she was entitled for a more spacious accommodation than she was currently occupying. She was staying at house number 6, C Block of Mission Road.

On March 21 the BBMP has served notice to Sheshagiri to vacate the premises and move to Kumbaragundi. He then approached the court and in his petition he contended that the deputy mayor’s direction was an attempt to evict him by force.

BBMP in its objection had said that Sheshagiri was a second division clerk and had made false allegations regarding the quarter at Kumbaragundi. They contended that it was repaired in the year 2003-04 and has been neatly maintained.
The photographs produced by Sheshagiri to BBMP as well as court were not of the residential premises. He had misled the BBMP and managed to secure accommodation at quarter no 2 of B block Mission Road.

BBMP intends to take disciplinary action against him for having misled the authority. The BBMP commissioner also intends to take disciplinary action against the engineering wing for submitting the report without verifying facts. The commissioner had then directed to cancel the said allotment and allot the same to Sunanda.