Arkavathy Layout gets SC nod

Arkavathy Layout gets SC nod
New Delhi, May 5, DHNS:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the decision of the Karnataka High Court in a case pertaining to land acquisition by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for Arkavathy Layout.

A bench of Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran had heard the petitions filed by Bondu Ramaswamy and other farmers challenging the high court order that justified the BDA decision to acquire their land.

Even though the judgment was pronounced on Wednesday by Justice Raveendran, its copy was not released neither to the press nor to the public. Karnataka government advocate Sanjay Hegde said the high court ruling was upheld by the apex court with certain modifications.

One would be certain only after reading the judgment, however, the direction had been issued to the BDA for reconsideration of the case of certain farmers in some villages, he said. Even advocate C M Angadi, appearing for one of the farmers, also said the high court judgment had been upheld with direction to the BDA to redress the grievances of some farmers.

In 2003, the BDA had acquired 2,750 acres of land for the project. Many farmers had challenged the BDA decision before the Karnataka High Court. After the high court ruled in the favour of the BDA, the farmers had appealed in the apex court.