The Karnataka High Court slammed the Bangalore Development Authority and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike for what it called their arrogance and unfriendly style of working.
The court expressed deep displeasure and annoyance at the manner in which the two civic agencies failed to coordinate with each other, leaving two site allottees in the lurch.
Corner sites
The court noted that the BDA had auctioned two prime corner sites in Dollars Colony here.
The purchasers paid the initial deposit and also obtained certificates. However, the BBMP, without even caring to inform either the BDA or the allottees, decided to take over the two sites for a storm water drain. It then took up work on the drain and its commissioner wrote to the BDA saying it needed the sites and that the allottees could be granted alternative land.
The BDA, on its part, decided to place the BBMP Commissioner's letter before its board for further action. The board declined to allot alternative sites, stating there was no provision to do so. The BDA conveyed this decision to both the BBMP and the allottees.
Highest bidders
Stunned, the allottees approached the High Court saying the BDA should allot land to them as they had purchased the sites in an auction and they were the highest bidders.
Justice Anand Byrareddy allowed their petition and castigated both the agencies. He asked the BBMP how it could appropriate a private site without following rules of land acquisition. He also sought to know from the BDA why it could not allot alternative land when the one it had granted was taken away from the allottees unfairly and illegally.
He then directed the BDA to provide alternative land to the allottees within two months.