The Karnataka Judicial Employees House Building Cooperative Society (KJEHBCS), established in 1983 to provide houses to the employees of Judicial Department, has allegedly committed several irregularities in possession of land, approving layout plan and site allotment.
Without government permission, it illegally took possession of 36 acres in the city, violating 79A and 79B provisions under the Karnataka Lands Reforms Act 1974, according to a report of the Joint Legislature Committee on Encroachments in Bangalore Urban District (2007), headed by A.T. Ramaswamy, who was then Janata Dal (S) MLA.
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The State Government had acquired 156 acres and 26 guntas in the villages of Allasandra, Chikkabommasandra, and Jakkur Chikka plantations in Bangalore North taluk in 1992, and handed over possession on November 13, 1992 to KJEHBCS. But it took possession of another 36 acres in same villages through private negotiations with landholders.
“But such negotiations of taking possession of farmlands for house building purpose without the Government's permission is illegal,” the report said, pointing out that the KJEHBCS has violated the Land Reforms Act, that the land should be forfeited and strictures passed on it.
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Interestingly, the society's layout plan was approved by the Yelahanka City Municipal Council, which has no jurisdiction over the area.
The society enrolled 3,399 members, 1,353 associate members, and allotted 2,268 sites. A large number of sites have been allotted to many associate members, including family members of Supreme Court and High Court judges, politicians, contractors and police officers who cannot be even “honorary” judicial officers, the panel said, observing that “the society distributed sites reserved for civic amenities”.
As per the plan, 25 per cent of the total layout should be reserved for public use. But the society, in its original plan, reserved only five per cent for civic amenities and parks.
27 sites
In March 2006, KJEHBCS's Secretary/Manager allotted 27 sites to his son-in-law by allegedly forging documents, against which the society has filed a criminal case. The case is in court, the report noted.
In December 2006, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies initiated an inquiry into several irregularities committed by the KJEHBCS.
The Ramaswamy report said: “It is most unfortunate that KJEHBCS, which should have been a model to other house building cooperative societies, has itself become the leading law-breaker without the least fear or care for law, propriety or public interest. It has indulged in acts of favour, cronyism, and capricious indifference to law at its will. Obviously, High Court judges and powerful persons as its members and beneficiaries will ensure immunity to all its illegal acts.”