HC seeks details on all City lakes

HC seeks details on all City lakes
Bangalore, DHNS:

The High Court, on Tuesday, directed the government to provide details about all the lakes in Bangalore, steps taken to protect them and also the future measures to preserve them.

The Court’s direction came in lieu of a PIL filed by environmentalists in the city, questioning the State’s move to privatise lakes by selling the Agara lake to Hyderabad-based Biota Natural Systems, Hebbal lake to East India Hotels Limited and Nagawara and Vengaiana lakes to Lumbini Gardens Limited.

The division bench headed by Justice D V Shailendra Kumar and Arvind Kumar has also directed the government to furnish details about the officers of the Lake Development Authority, (LDA) who are responsible for protecting the lakes.

ISKCON: Contempt case
Fight over the ownership of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangalore, has taken a new twist with the Mumbai ISKCON filing a criminal contempt petition against Bangalore ISKCON, on Tuesday.

Mumbai ISKCON’s advocate Uday Holla claimed that Bangalore ISKCON’s request for shifting the bench lowered the dignity of the court.

He argued that the rule of law would collapse if this step was taken, especially after the letter of blackmail was written to Justice K L Manjunath.

The petition is at the moment awaiting approval from the Advocate General Ashok Harnahalli.

Meanwhile, the proceedings were heard on Tuesday after Chief Justice P D Dinakaran directed that the case will continue to be posted in front of Justice K L Manjunath.

While the Mumbai ISKCON’s counsel presented its ground for a criminal contempt petition, the Court adjourned the matter on Bangalore ISKCON’s request.

Report on HAL airport
The Karnataka High Court, on Tuesday, directed the stakeholders of the Bengaluru International Airport (Union and State government and the Airport Authority of India) to place before it the renegotiation report with regard to reopening of HAL airport.

On March 23, 2008, an application was filed in the High Court regarding the closure of HAL airport.

The Counsel for the Central government at that time, had said that the matter would be resolved through negotiation and had sought 12 weeks’ time.

The division bench headed by Justice K L Manjunath wanted to know the details of the renegotiation report. The matter has been adjourned.

Violation of by-laws
The High Court, on Tuesday, issued summons to a city-based couple for violating building
by-laws.

Gautam Kothari and his wife has been asked to appear before the High Court by Justice Rammohan Reddy in relation to the construction of five-storey building in Seshadripuram, after obtaining approval for the construction of three storeys.

The couple had approached the High Court after the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike had issued orders for the demolition of the additional storeys. But the judge issued summons to the couple, when it was pointed out that no permission was obtained for the construction of two additional floors.