Karnataka High Court
Sri. Ramesh. R vs State Of Karnataka on 24 July, 2023
Author: R Devdas
Bench: R Devdas
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NC: 2023:KHC:25664
WP No. 7935 of 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF JULY, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R DEVDAS
WRIT PETITION NO. 7935 OF 2023 (LB-BMP)
BETWEEN:
1. SRI. RAMESH. R.,
S/O RAMANAND V
AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS
NO.84/2, 1ST MAIN ROAD,
NEAR U K FURNITURE,
THIMMAIAH GARDEN, R T NAGAR
BENGALURU-560032
AADHAR NO.591667587028
2. SRI RAGHU R
S/O RAMANAND V
AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS,
Digitally signed
by JUANITA NO.84/2, 1ST MAIN ROAD,
THEJESWINI NEAR U K FURNITURE
Location: HIGH
COURT OF THIMMAIAH GARDEN, R T NAAGR
KARNATAKA BENGALURU-560032
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. ROHAN HOSMATH., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. STATE OF KARNATAKA
URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT,
AMBEDKAR BHEEDHI,
VIKAS SOUDHA
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NC: 2023:KHC:25664
WP No. 7935 of 2023
BENGALURU-560001
REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
2. BRUHAT BENGALURU MAHANAGARA PALIKE
HUDSON CIRCLE, N R SQUARE
BENGALURU-560002
REP BY ITS CHIEF COMMISSIONER
3. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
TOWN PLANNING DEPARTMENT
BRUHAT BENGALURU MAHANAGARA PALIKE
RAJARAJESHWARI NAGAR
BENGALURU-560098
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. NITHYANANDA K.R., AGA FOR R1
SRI. PRADEEP PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR
SRI. MONESH KUMAR K.B, ADVOCATE FOR R2 & R3)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE
IMPUGNED ENDORSEMENT DTD 15.03.2023 BEARING
NO.SA.NI./(NA YO) / RA RA NA VA/PR / 559/22-23 ANNEXURE-
A ISSUED BY R3 AND QUASH THE IMPUGNED OFFICE ORDER
DTD 31.01.2023 BEARING NO.HA.NI.NA.YO/P.R./1338/2022-23
ANNEXURE-B ISSUED BY R2 AND ETC.,
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING
- B GROUP, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
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NC: 2023:KHC:25664
WP No. 7935 of 2023
ORDER
R.DEVDAS J., (ORAL):
The petitioners herein approached the third respondent-Assistant Director, Town Planning Department of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Rajarajeshwari Nagar Sub-Division, seeking sanction of a building licence and plan in terms of Annexure 'G'.
2. Learned Counsel submits that much prior to the submission of the sanction plan, the petitioners had sought information from the BBMP authorities and the petitioners were told that the plan has to be submitted showing 28.86 mtrs. in the front side of the property for expansion of road and plan will not be sanctioned in the said area. Accordingly, the petitioners submitted a proposed plan leaving out 28.86 mtrs. in the frontage of the property for the purposes of road widening. Thereafter, in terms of the bye-laws, the plan was submitted for putting up a commercial building. However, before approving the plan the petitioners were issued with -4- NC: 2023:KHC:25664 WP No. 7935 of 2023 the impugned communication dated 15.03.2023 at Annexure 'A' calling upon the petitioners to relinquish the portion earmarked for road widening, free of cost. Learned Counsel submits that the question as to whether a private property should be relinquished free of cost to the local authorities such as BBMP without payment of compensation was considered by a co-ordinate Bench in the case of Dr.Arun Kumar B.C. and Others Vs. State of Karnataka and Others in W.P.No.9408/2020 and connected matters dated 17.01.2022. Learned Counsel submits that the co-ordinate Bench has clearly held that such demand made by the local authorities to relinquish a private property free of cost for the purposes of formation of a road or widening of road will be clearly contrary to the provisions contained in Article 300A of the Constitution of India and the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act.
3. Learned Counsel would also draw the attention of this Court to an office order dated 31.01.2023 at Annexure 'B'. However, learned Counsel for the respondent-BBMP -5- NC: 2023:KHC:25664 WP No. 7935 of 2023 would submit that the Office Order dated 31.01.2023 at Annexure 'B' is an internal communication made by the Chief Commissioner, BBMP to all the concerned Officers of the BBMP in the matter of considering a sanctioned plan for the purpose of the Floor Area Ratio and making use of the benefit of Transferable Development Rights. At any rate, it is submitted that there is no occasion for the petitioners to question the said internal communication made by the Chief Commissioner to the Officers of the BBMP.
4. Having heard the learned Counsel for the petitioners, the learned Counsel for the respondent-BBMP and on perusing the petition papers, this Court is of the considered opinion that the third respondent-Assistant Director, Town Planning, BBMP, Rajarajeshwari Nagar Sub- Division, cannot insist that the petitioners should relinquish a portion of their property free of cost for the purposes of road widening. This issue has been considered by the co-ordinate Bench in the case of -6- NC: 2023:KHC:25664 WP No. 7935 of 2023 Dr.Arun Kumar B.C. (supra) and the Hon'ble Division Bench has also confirmed the said judgment in W.A.No.335/2022 dated 28.07.2022. In that view of the matter, the writ petition is required to be allowed.
5. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed. The impugned communication dated 15.03.2023 at Annexure 'A' is hereby quashed and set aside. The third respondent-Assistant Director is hereby directed to consider the application filed by the petitioners seeking sanction of plan in terms of Annexure 'G' and proceed in accordance with law without insisting for relinquishment of a portion of the property belonging to the petitioners free of cost, in terms of the judgment mentioned hereinabove in the case of Dr.Arun Kumar B.C. (supra). If the respondent-BBMP requires any portion of the property belonging to the petitioners for the purposes of road widening, the same can be acquired in a manner known to law or by grant of Transferable Development Rights in -7- NC: 2023:KHC:25664 WP No. 7935 of 2023 terms of Section 14-B of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961.
6. At any rate, the plan for sanction and issuance of building license shall be considered as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Ordered accordingly.
Sd/-
JUDGE JT/-