21.10. 21
The petitioner in the Road Project Case, St. Joseph's convent, observing the violation of BBMP's commitment, not to undertake formation of road, without their consent as well as consent of all parties, moved the High Court, Case WP 18807/2021.
The Hon Judge granted a stay on all proceedings by the BBMP with regard to the Road project, and posted the case for next hearing on 27th Oct.
The BBMP was violating its own commitment in a 2018 undertaking to the HC, in WP 26097/2018, clearly recorded in the Judgement, and the petitioners are pressing charges of contempt against the respondent.
While the Stay Order would normally be a relief, residents of Whitefield are not so sure, as BBMP officials have been committing blatant violations, including Contempt of Court, violation of lake buffer zone, etc., and has been displaying a belligerent attitude, as if they do not respect the law at all. In fact, we are wondering if BBMP officials even take the High Court seriously, at all!
If the BBMP violates the new Stay order also, then we should shut down the High Court of Karnataka. What's the point having a court whose judgements don't matter?
As we have seen in the past few weeks, the BBMP doesn't seem to have any regard for HC Orders. The fresh case was filed by petitioner because of Contempt of Court by BBMP, which violated its own commitment in earlier case...
It seems like BBMP has descended into complete lawlessness, with scant regard for the High court of Karnataka or the laws of the land...!
What makes BBMP officials take such huge risks? Are the rewards that come for violating the laws so huge that it is worth taking the risk of entangling with the highest court in the state??
The news of the Interim Stay order came in the backdrop of the BBMP resuming its efforts at forming road quite close to the lake, after continuously confirming for the past 2 days, that they would not do so. In fact, the BBMP had sent a JCB to clear foliage on the site next to the lake at the same time as the hearing was going on in the high court.
The day was quite eventful, with BBMP’s desperate attempts at illegal Road Formation violating High Court Orders, violating Pattandur Agrahara Lake Buffer Zone, Courtroom drama, threats issued by BBMP officials and Whitefield Residents getting charged up to hold a Public Protest….. All this and more…
If you are interested in the entire day's happenings, please read the blog here: https://bit.ly/3C8lZMe
And BTW, we are planning some mass action, to begin with a Twitter Storm, and some other activities. Please stay tuned. Watch this space!
UPDATE:
Just as we'd predicted, despite Knowledge of Stay Order, work resumed at 9 am under instructions of AE. When Public informed contractor about Stay Order & that Police will be called, he checked with AEE & stopped work!
#Callousness by BBMP! #ContemptOfCourt
https://twitter.com/PattandurLake/status/1451438233376550918