Upalokayukta Subash B. Adi on Saturday directed Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Ajith Kumar Hegde S. to ensure that high-rises in the city conform to building by-laws.
Listening to a petition by activist Hanumanth Kamath, who questioned the violation of buildings norms, Justice Adi said that the town planning officials should visit the building site before construction started.
He added that the law said that buildings should be constructed as per plan. “This should be ensured by the (Mangalore City Corporation) Commissioner,” he said.
Justice Adi asked Mr. Hegde to furnish a list of buildings that had violated the by-laws and also the steps taken to prevent such violations. Mr. Hegde said that notifications were issued in newspapers asking builders to ensure parking facility in basements.
He said individual notices would be issued to builders violating norms and assured Justice Adi that steps would then be taken to ensure parking in basements. Mr. Hegde was given four months to submit a compliance report.
Among other cases that were heard by Justice Adi included that of C.S. Shastry, a resident of Bantwal, who sought action against the Headmaster and four teachers of an aided primary school for illegally working for an unaided secondary school between 2006 and 2008.
He also accused the headmaster of illegally extending the mid-day meal scheme to students in the unaided school. Justice Adi directed the Deputy Director of Public Instruction to conduct a discreet enquiry against persons who had abused authority and caused losses to the State.
Justice Adi took to task the Sub-Registrar of Bantwal for allowing registration of a sale deed by a person whose general power of attorney over 91 cents of land had been cancelled a month before the date of registration. “Sub Registrar is prima facie guilty of registering a document in absence of a real vendor and causing loss to the vendor,” Justice Adi observed and directed the Sub Registrar to appear before the Lokayukta on July 13.
Nearly 120 cases from Bantwal and Mangalore Taluk taken up on Saturday.
Unclean Beach, sea erosion a concern
Upa Lokayukta Subash B Adi expressed concern over pollution of beach in Mangalore and also about the sea erosion.
Talking to reporters here on Saturday, Justice Adi said one does not fell like walking on the beach because of garbage and pollution. “This is a serious problem and I have brought this to the notice of Deputy Commissioner. The local authorities have to take up the issue and develop beaches.”
he said even though there were no complaints about unclean beaches and sea erosion, these were the two main concerns that needs be addressed forthwith. - Staff Correspondent