PIL In Karnataka HC Seeking To Stop Construction Of HC Annexe Building, Inside Cubbon Park [Read Petition]

The fight to stop the proposed construction of Karnataka High Court Annexe building has reached the High Court, a public interest litigation has been filed by Cubbon Park Walkers Association, seeking a prayer to quash the government order allowing the construction of the seven storied building inside the park.

The petition filed by the association comes after the High Court had on October 17, allowed the application made by Registrar General of the High Court, seeking permission to construct the Annexe building, without cutting of any trees. The petition states that the proposed action to demolish the old Election Commissioners Office and put up a multi-storied building violates the right to clean air which a citizen is entitled to and which is part of the Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The petition further states that the action of the state government in granting approval for demolition of the existing building and putting up a multi-storied building is contrary to the division bench judgment in the case of G K Govindarao vs State of Karnataka and Supreme Court judgement in M/s Vinayak House Building Cooperative Housing Society vs State of Karnataka. The state has in a hurry and in the absence of Environmental Impact Assessment study action of approval is not bonafide.

Further, the Government order contravenes the provisions contained in the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act. The consequence of the construction will result in shrinking of cities open space and will cause ecological imbalance.

By way of interim relief the petition seeks directions to stay the government order of September 23, allowing demolition of the old building and construction of the HC Annexe building, in the interest of justice and equality. Further, the Government order contravenes the provisions contained in the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act. The petition is likely to come up for hearing on November 11.

There have been several protests by environmentalists and citizens in Bengaluru, against the construction of HC Annexe building. Online petition seeking to stop the construction has been started by a Heritage conservation group 

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[Read Petition]