BANGALORE: Even orders of Supreme Court and Karnataka High Court didn't deter chief minister B S Yeddyurappa from his denotifying spree — flouting strict orders and defying a strong protest by officials, the CM has denotified 5 acres, 13 guntas of land acquired by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for a layout at Nagarabhavi as early as 1982.

In 1982, the BDA acquired 10 acres, 8 guntas of land at survey No. 78, Nagarbhavi I Phase, Yeshwanthpur hobli, Bangalore North taluk. On August 16, 1985, while issuing the final notification, it left out 35 guntas of land and notified 9 acres, 13 guntas. This was awarded on May 12, 1988.

Of the total 9 acres, 13 guntas, an area of 2 acres, 30 guntas was for construction of an 80-ft road, while a high-tension electricity wire passed through 1 acre, 10 guntas of land. The plan was to have 22 residential sites, 16 sites for shops, three sites for a park and open spaces, and one CA site.

Information obtained through RTI revealed that the land owners had approached HC and SC against acquisition by the BDA. Meanwhile, they petitioned the government to return to them (denotify) 5 acres, 13 guntas of land. They even put forward a compromise formula: "We will not claim compensation for 2 acres, 30 guntas if 5 acres 13 guntas are denotified in our favour."

BDA and urban development department officials rejected the application as it was illegal. On Nov 26, 2009, the BDA demolished all unauthorized structures on the land and began carving out the layout.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA M P Kumaraswamy batted for the applicants and the issue was taken before the CM. Defying the officials, the CM issued an order: "Treat this as a special case and denotify."