BMP scheme: K'taka Govt given time till June 7

Bangalore, Apr 4 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today extended till June seven the timeframe for the State Government to file objections to a writ petition, challenging a scheme which allowed building by-law violators to regularise their property in lieu of a property gift to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP).

Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Mr Justice K L Manjunath gave the extension as a last chance to the Government.

D Sundareshan, a senior citizen, had filed a writ petition, challenging the legality and constitutionality of the scheme, 'Grant of Transferable Development Right'. Under the scheme, if a property owner had violated building by-laws, he could approach the BMP with an offer to gift a property in another area for issue of a certificate. The certificate, which would protect the property from demolition, could be transferred to any other person.

He contended that the impugned scheme was illegal and subverted the rule of law by legitimising the offence. It was also violative of the provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act.

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