The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the State Government to file an affidavit on the contentious National War Memorial that is coming up at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Park in Bangalore.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Mohan Shantangouder passed the order on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by the Krishna Apartment Residents' Welfare Association and Sudheer Pai.
The petitioners had questioned the State Government's decision in permitting ABIDe to go ahead with the construction of the memorial which would entail felling of trees.
The petitioners said the park is the only lung space in the area and any construction in it would harm the local ecology.
The court had, in an earlier hearing, restrained the authorities from felling any trees.
When the matter came up on Tuesday, Advocate-General Ashok Harnahalli said a motivation hall would come up beneath the war memorial.
He said the idea was to nudge the youth into joining the armed forces.
The Division Bench orally observed that it would be appropriate if the hall was used for the purpose for which it is being built and not for holding parties.
It then asked the State to file an affidavit. The BDA too said it would file an affidavit.
The State Government undertook not to fell any trees till the next date of hearing. The Bench adjourned further hearing of the case to Monday.
