Taking exception to the absence of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Administrator T.M. Vijay Bhaskar, the High Court of Karnataka on Friday adjourned hearing on PIL petitions on garbage problems, while wondering on the need to hear the issue on priority when the key official himself was absent.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice N. Kumar and Justice B.V. Nagarathna, made these observations orally on noticing that Mr. Vijay Bhaskar had not come to the court to make submissions on actions initiated by him on the problem.
Mr. Vijay Bhaskar and newly appointed Commissioner G. Kumar Naik were on April 29 given time for going through all the orders passed and the steps taken on resolving the garbage-related issue as they had then just taken over the posts following dissolution of the BBMP’s council.
Both the officers had then assured the Bench that they would interact with their advocate, the Special Commissioner (SWM), and Expert Committee members, and would make their submissions on actions initiated by them. On Friday, however, only Mr. Naik was present in the court along with Special Commissioner (SWM) Darpan Jain.
“We feel it shows how serious the senior officers of the BBMP are in solving the garbage problem,” the Bench observed while asking why should the court give importance to the issue if the persons concerned were themselves not serious enough. “How can we issue any direction without knowing whether the Administrator had understood the earlier orders of the court or not,” the Bench said.
However, the Bench adjourned further hearing till June 19 after BBMP counsel assured that the Administrator would be present during next date of hearing.
