High Court seeks report from BBMP Commissioner by next week
Observing that failure on the part of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials had resulted in unauthorised constructions that are a public menace, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the BBMP Commissioner to initiate action against those who condoned such violations.
Justice Ram Mohan Reddy issued the direction while hearing a petition complaining about construction of a building in R.T. Nagar in violation of the sanctioned plan and building byelaws.
Data and action
The court directed the Commissioner to instruct the Chief Engineers of all the zones to collect data on the unauthorised constructions and — both encroachments and byelaw deviations — and then initiate disciplinary and criminal action against the jurisdictional officials who had failed to prevent such illegalities.
The sought a report from the Commissioner in this regard by September 21.
“Failure to prevent unauthorised constructions or deviations in constructions by jurisdictional officers has turned out to be a menace to citizens. Several petitions are being filed complaining about such illegal constructions and action is initiated only after the court issues directions,” Justice Reddy observed.
The court also pointed out that whenever such petitions are filed, the usual reply by the jurisdictional officials is that they were not in charge of the area at the time of the construction.
The court was dealing with the petition, filed by one Jahagirdar A.A., a resident of Ex-Servicemen Colony in R.T. Nagar. The petitioner complained that one Prem Prakash Gupta was able to construct a building in violation of byelaws and sanctioned plan despite complaints submitted to the BBMP officials.
On a court directive, the BBMP’s jurisdictional engineer, who inspected the building, told the court the terrace floor was constructed with 294 per cent deviation and that there was about 40 to 50 per cent overall deviation from the setback norms.
Voilations of building law/plans are common. The officials concerned turn a blind eye once
their hands are greased. This is not a revelation. Everybody knows. Except , of course, the
persons concerned with vigilance. Poor chaps. Must have gone into deep slumber!
Whatever an individual does would go in vain unless he takes up through the course of law.
How many can take this course? Only a few. Thanks to them, occasions like this arise.
Atleast now, if the authorities wake up and carry out a review of all the past violations be it
major or minor and come down strictly on all the officials concerned and hold them
responsible for their acts and impose punishment, the menace will not subside. Deviations
in constructions now at least need to be rectified instead of being condoned.
Rule of construction strictly according to the plan needs to be enforced and negligent
officials punished without any mercy. Needless to say,adherence to plan must be made
practical and simple.
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