Deccan Herald         26.11.2013

High Court directs BDA to name road encroachers

The High Court on Monday directed the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to submit the list of those who have encroached  upon a road at MLA Layout here by constructing apartment buildings. The court also sought the list of people who denotified the acquisition of three sites meant for widening the road in the said locality.

Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by Shakuntala Chougale and others for removing the encroachment, a Division Bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice S N Satyanarayana directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to provide the names of officials who permitted the violation of building bylaws and construction of the buildings.

The court told the BDA to identify persons who violated the layout plans, and furnish the details before November 28, 2013. It warned of criminal action against those responsible for such violation. “If we find (a) cognizable offence, we will order an investigation. Place the facts before us,” the bench remarked.

The petitioners had moved the High Court alleging that some apartments had been built right in the middle of the road, denying others access to the main road even in case of an emergency.

The High Court, in an earlier order, had directed the BDA to form a committee and address the issue.