Karnataka HC raps govt for starting work on Bengaluru steel bridge before hearing locals

BENGALURU: Expressing displeasure over the state government for starting work on a steel bridge at Shivananda Circle in the city when a representation given by locals against it is still pending before the government, the High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the government and BBMP after hearing public interest litigation against the project.Hearing the petition filed by B P Mahesh and other local residents, a division bench of acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar adjourned it for further hearing to November 3.

Although the bench, at one point, was about to pass orders to stop the work, it did not do so as Additional Advocate General A S Ponnanna submitted that the representation of the petitioners dated August 17, 2017 will be considered and an order will be passed by the Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, on or before November 2. He further submitted that the petitioners will be heard on October 28.

Earlier, the counsel for the petitioners brought to the notice of the court that a division bench headed by the chief justice on August 7, had disposed of PIL challenging the proposed steel overbridge on Hare Krishna Road at Shivananda Circle, by granting liberty to the petitioners to submit the detailed representation to the Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department. The principal secretary should dispose of the same within two months, after obtaining opinions of all concerned and petitioners. A representation was submitted on August 17, but even after two months, it is still pending and no order was passed. Meanwhile, work on the steel bridge was taken up from October 3, he argued.
Taking serious note of this, the bench observed, “It is not fair to take up work when the representation is pending. You should have expeditiously disposed it of as per the court order.”