Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday ordered issue of notices to the State government, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Pailke (BBMP) and Shantinagar constituency MLA N.A. Haris on a PIL petition questioning the proposed ‘open street festival’ to held on January 15 on 100 feet road in HAL 2nd Stage.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice Budihal R.B. passed the order on the petition filed by 76-year-old C. Dinakar, who is a former director-general and inspector general of police of Karnataka.
The bench asked the government counsel to seek instruction on the plight of residents in case of a medical emergency when traffic is blocked for the entire day and temporary stalls would be put up as part of the event.
“As far as schools and offices are concerned, one can apply for leave for a day. But there is no casual leave before Yamaraj,” the Chief Justice orally observed while asking the government counsel seek instruction from the authorities concerned by January 10.
Earlier, Mr. Dinakar, who personally argued his case, pointed out that Mr. Haris has no locus standi to organise the event, reportedly for promoting tourism in the area, as he is not the elected representatives of HAL II Stage. He pointed out that closure of the road would only cause inconvenience to residents as well as regular users of the road, which is an arterial road.
He contended that “there is no tourism potential in 100 feet road. It is in pathetic condition with potholes, broken surface here and there, garbage piled up to add to the beauty of the area, uneven and badly damaged footpath on which pedestrians cannot walk, sewage water flowing from broken pipes to give odoriferous fragrance to the area.”
Pointing out that ‘open street festivals’ are held in some Western countries in areas with tourism potential and negligible traffic, the petitioner alleged that the January 15 event is a personal one organised Mr. Haris and the ‘stark reality is that it is a money-making proposition, which will cause harassment to the residents...’
