Hoodlums dishonour court fiat

Hoodlums dishonour court fiat

In a bid to grab park land worth Rs 20 crore, goonda elements build a temple in its premises and even extend it

M K ASHOKA



It’s a clear ‘dishonour’ of the Karnataka high court verdict. The HC had on Oct 24, 2008 asked the BBMP and the BDA to prevent misuse of a park in JP Nagar 4th Phase within 30 days, these bodies have failed to perform their task. Now, the goonda elements are out to grab this land.
Residents are clueless as these two organisations have failed to act on the HC’s order.
The park site, measuring 1,355.85 square metres, is worth Rs 20 crore. Over a period, these elements built a temple in the premises, as a result of which a park that was to be developed there never saw light of the day. Soon, miscreants extended the temple and built a navagraha mantap.
COURT BATTLE
B S Kumaraswamy, an engineer-turned environmentalist who resides opposite to the park, sensed that vested interests were out to grab the land by building a temple and later use it for commercial purposes. He asked the BBMP to develop a park in the premises. When his appeals fell on deaf ears, Kumaraswamy, along with P Kodandaramaiah, former Bangalore Police Commissioner and a former MP, approached the high court.
On Oct 24, 2008, Chief Justice P D Dinakaran said that the site, having been earmarked for a park for enjoyment of the public from every religious fraternity, divesting of the civic amenity site for putting up a temple is improper and impermissible. “We feel there is justification in the grievance put forth by the petitioners and public interest demands that a direction shall be issued to respondents 1 and 2 (BBMP & BDA) to take suitable action in the matter. Such action shall be taken within 30 days from the date of this order,” the judgment read.
DEATH THREATS
Kumaraswamy and Kodandaramaiah moved from pillar to post to get the order executed. The former is even facing death threats for being vocal on the issue.
The JP Nagar Residents Welfare Association, which apparently comprises these elements, filed a review petition seeking an interim order staying further proceedings. But the court dismissed its petition.
BBMP chief engineer (south) Jeevan Pai said the work would begin soon and horticulture department superintendent (south) Doddakunde Gowda is in charge of developing the park.
NOISE NUISANCE
Kodandaramaiah said, “Ever since the BJP came to power, hooligans in the area who have formed an association and built the temple, are playing devotional songs and prayers in the park in the mornings and evenings. “Songs played through loudspeakers are vitiating the serene atmosphere,” he said.
“Despite the high court order, the temple’s structure has been extended. There seems to be no respect to the HC order,” he said.
Kumaraswamy said he had written 20 letters to BBMP Commissioner S Subramanya and still striving to get the HC order enforced.