BDA files appeal in HC over Arkavathy

BDA files appeal in HC over Arkavathy
The Times of India

Bangalore: The BDA on Monday filed an appeal in the high court against the April 15 single judge order quashing the BDA’s land acquisition for the Arkavathy housing project. The appeal may come up before a vacation division Bench of the court on Tuesday.

Counsel for the BDA, Venugopal Gowda, said the BDA has sought the setting aside of the April 15 order, the upholding of the land acquisition for the project and directions to continue the project.

Incidentally, nearly 200 land owners whose properties are at the centre of the land acquisition imbroglio have filed caveats in the court stating no interim orders should be passed in the case without giving them a hearing. A separate government appeal in the case is expected to be filed at a later date.

A single judge of HC had on April 15 quashed BDA’s acquisition of 2,750 acres of land for the Arkavathy project and had ruled that project area is beyond the BDA’s jurisdiction.

When asked about the authority’s decision to file an appeal on Tuesday in the case, BDA officials refused to comment. While sources were confident that the appeal — by BDA and the government — would be heard on Tuesday, every official was tight-lipped on the issue.

Sources say that the decision of the court on the BDA/government appeal could impact other projects undertaken by BDA, including its Rs 490 crore Hi-Tech City project.