PCCF directed to file status report on lakes

PCCF directed to file status report on lakes

Staff Reporter

Privatisation of three lakes challenged

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Friday once again directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Karnataka, to file a status report on the lakes in Bangalore that have been leased to private entrepreneurs for development.

The petitioners, Environment Support Group and Leo Saldanha, had challenged the privatisation of three lakes in Bangalore.

When the court asked the Government why its earlier direction to the PCCF and the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF-Urban) to file the status report had not been complied with, the Government said a new PCCF had taken charge on Friday. It sought two weeks time to file the report.

The Bench rejected the Government plea for two weeks’ time and directed the PCCF and DCF to file a report within a week.

It adjourned further haring on the case.
Dismissed

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice A.N. Venugopala Gowda, dismissed a petition challenging the extension of service given to Nagaraja, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-sciences (NIMHANS), after it was told that the petitioner, Taranath Shetty, had died.
PIL dismissed

A Division Bench comprising Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph and Mr. Justice Venugopala Gowda dismissed a public interest litigation petition filed by Belli Raviverma and U. Bhupathi, both of Bangalore, challenging a Government circular directing the Muzrai temples in Karnataka to offer puja in the name of the Chief Minister and the State Government.

Belli, a third-year law student, and Bhupathi, president of the Lawyers’ Forum for Social Justice, had challenged the circular issued by the Muzrai Minister Krishnaiah Shetty on June 9, 2008.

The petition came to be dismissed after the court was told that the Government had withdrawn the circular.

Adjourned

A Division Bench comprising Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph and Mr. Justice Venugopala Gowda adjourned further hearing on a petition by Kedambady Jagannath Shetty, G.P. Shivaprakash and M.P. Chinappa, all former High Court judges, and several other petitioners seeking a CBI inquiry into the affairs of the Karnataka State Judicial Department Employees House Building Society.