BBMP official pulled up for 'acting like court'

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday pulled up a BBMP official for imitating court orders without holding any jurisdiction.

A division bench comprising Justice Jayant Patel and Justice N K Sudhindra Rao lambasted the official and asked him if he himself is a court. Hearing a contempt petition filed by Abshot Layout Residents' Association against M B Tippanna, town planning additional director, BBMP, the bench expressed displeasure in the way the court orders were recreated without holding any powers of the court.

Abshot Layout Residents' Association had filed a petition complaining about the plan sanction granted to Nitesh Estates Ltd wherein, they were to use a narrow road as access to the upcoming residential complex.  The residents had contended that the narrow road would lead to traffic congestion.

The high court had directed BBMP's additional director (Town Planning) to hold a hearing with all people concerned. The hearing was conducted. Tippanna passed an order on August 20, 2016 that sanction plan was given in accordance with law. But the residents claimed they were not present when the order was passed.