The Hindu 10.12.2010
‘No more demolitions without notice’
Staff Reporter
BANGALORE: In a landmark decision that is expected to bring back
smiles on the faces of land and house owners whose buildings are marked
for demolition, the State Government on Wednesday said it would not
demolish buildings or structures in the State or evict people from their
land without giving sufficient notice. The Government made this
submission in the form of an affidavit before the Karnataka High Court.
Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of the Department
of Urban Development Subhir Hari Singh filed an affidavit to this effect
before the court of Justice D V. Shylendra Kumar.
Justice Shylendra Kumar had last week asked the Commissioner of BDA
and the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department (UDD) to
be present on Wednesday to explain the rationale of the BDA in
demolishing homes and structures without giving sufficient notice.
Justice Shylendra Kumar had taken exception to the manner in which
the BDA had demolished houses in RMV Extension without affording
sufficient opportunity to the house owners.
Government advocate Dodderri submitted an affidavit to the court. The
affidavit by Mr. Singh stated that the Government had issued a
notification to all urban development bodies, including the BDA, to
ensure that no demolition was carried out without giving sufficient
notice.
The affidavit said the due process of law would be followed whenever
houses or structures are marked for demolition. The same process would
be followed in the case of Ropeena Agrahara, Mr. Dodderi told the court.
