The Hindu              12.06.2013

Ready to give houses to 148 illegal Ejipura occupants, BBMP tells court

As many as 148 persons found residing illegally in the quarters allotted to 1,512 identified persons at the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quarters at Ejipura will be provided with alternative housing elsewhere, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) told the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday.

The civic authority’s counsel gave this assurance during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, filed by some of the illegal residents before the quarters were demolished due to substandard quality of construction. The petitioners sought a direction to the BBMP to allot quarters for them also in the facility under construction, as is being done in case of the 1,512 original allottees.

“The BBMP has identified five acres to house these 148 illegal occupants,” BBMP’s counsel told a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice B.V. Nagarathna.

However, counsel refused to accept the petitioners’ claim there were 1,101 illegal occupants. “The BBMP had found only 148 in the quarters before they were demolished.”

‘How is it a PIL?’

Meanwhile, the Bench asked petitioners’ counsel how their plea can be treated as a PIL when they were espousing their private interest and not a public cause.

As their counsel claimed there were 1,101 illegal occupants, the Bench told him each one will have come on record with necessary proof for their claim and adjourned further hearing to June 26.

The BBMP is constructing new apartment complex of 1,512 flats through a public-private-partnership project with Maverick Holdings and Investments Pvt. Ltd.

Mayor election row

The State government on Tuesday sought a week to file its statement on a petition filed by two BBMP councillors challenging reservation of mayor’s post for the General category for the 2013-14 tenure.

Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das granted time after government counsel sought time for filing statement.

Councillors Varalakshmi J. and Noor Jahan, representing Marathahalli and Kushalnagar wards respectively, challenged the second notification issued on February 8 changing the reservation to the General category from the General (Woman) category.

The Hindu              12.06.2013

BBMP seals IndiaPost office branch and three banks

Customers of Vijaya Bank, Apex Bank, State Bank of Mysore (SBM) and IndiaPost office branches in the Public Utility Building (PUB) were in for a surprise on Monday morning when they found them to be remained shut, even past the start of working hours. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which owns the PUB, had sealed the four offices and put up notices outside that claimed that the establishments owed the civic body licence fees, in all, Rs. 4.55 crore.

Janakiraman K. (name changed), a senior citizen, was one of the many who came to the SBM branch for banking transaction. He was directed to the M.G. Road branch by the staff members, who were also fielding a volley of questions from concerned customers. “I had to get my passbook updated. Now, I have to walk to the M.G. Road branch,” he mumbled angrily.

A bank official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that several customers had been directed to the other branches

BBMP officials said that Vijaya Bank owed Rs. 3.25 crore in pending licence fees and fines, SBM Rs. 63.56 lakh, Apex Bank Rs. 33.09 lakh and India Post office owed Rs. 33.54 lakh. They claimed that the four establishments had not paid the licence fees for the past three years.

Following the locking down of the premises by the BBMP, Apex Bank immediately gave a pay order and cleared the dues. Similarly, Vijaya Bank officials cleared the dues partly by paying Rs. 2 crore. Both branch offices were allowed to open.

Meanwhile, SBM officials claimed to have got a stay order from the High Court of Karnataka on the BBMP’s move to seal their branch office on Friday. However, BBMP officials maintained that they were not informed about the stay order and sealed the branch office.

They said that the matter had been referred to the BBMP’s Legal Section. SBM officials, who were present at the spot, said that the High Court had directed the BBMP to maintain status quo .

“We will also check with our legal department to ascertain if the BBMP’s move is in contempt of court,” the official said.