After causing uproar in June by questioning the authority of the Kempanna Commission to review Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO) reports, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on Saturday withdrew the contentious application.
In June, when the commission inquiring into the irregularities in allotment of land in Arkavathi Layout started hearing petitions, Sunil Dutt Yadav, BDA’s advocate, had moved an interim petition seeking the deletion of one of the terms of reference notified by the State government: “To look into the legal status of the SLAO reports”. The petition had contended that the commission, also a quasi-judicial authority, could not review another quasi-judicial order.
However, during the second hearing on Saturday, another round of arguments broke out, with the other parties criticising the BDA for delaying the process by introducing and withdrawing applications.
Advocate S. Doreraju said the withdrawal of the application in the second term of reference signalled the “first victory” for them. “Even when they filed the application last time, we had opposed it saying the commission was established through a government order and only another government order could delete it,” he said.
He also demanded, during the hearing, that the BDA pay a fine of Rs. 50,000 for filing “application after application”. “Let there be an early conclusion,” he said.
The other parties also demanded to see the eight Google maps which show the changes in the layout stage-by-stage. The Commission has, however, agreed to show them the maps during the next hearing, which is scheduled for July 25.
Even when they filed the application last time, we had opposed it saying the commission was established through a government order and only another government order could delete it.
S. Doreraju
Advocate
