HC shocked over use of industrial land for housing
The High Court on Monday expressed disbelief over how the land use of an industrial plot was changed for residential purpose.
A division bench of acting Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice B V Nagarathna directed the State government to take action against Joy Icecream, real estate developer Prestige Group and other firms if they are found to have violated the land allotment rules.
The order came on a PIL by Karnataka Praja Rajya Vedike. The matter pertains to a piece of land allotted by KIADB to Joy Icecream. The firm sold it to another company Wild Flowers in 2006. A month later, Prestige Group bought it from Wild Flowers. All this while, the KIADB didn’t take any action. On May 21, 2015, it cancelled the allotment to the original allottee (Joy Icecream). The Prestige Group, however, went to the High Court, stating that although it had purchased the land, it wasn’t informed about the cancellation of allotment.
The Vedike argued that not only the entire sale of land was illegal, but the companies also changed the land use as Prestige Group is constructing housing blocks on land originally meant for industries.
The bench was told that the matter had been referred back to the government. It said, “This is a very dangerous development. The land meant for industry is being converted into a housing block.”
When the court learnt that the land was allotted to an ice cream firm, the acting chief justice said, “It means that it has melted like an ice cream? Can they sell this land like this? It was allotted in 2006. The KIADB has initiated action now after it was sold in 2006? Is KIADB an industrial board or a housing board?”
The court directed the government to conduct an enquiry by giving an opportunity to Prestige Group to present its case, and in case of any violation, take action against both the buyers and the sellers. It then disposed of the matter.
IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THE LAND ALLOTTED FOR THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AT A THROW AWAY PRICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT IS ILLEGALLY SOLD TO THESE BUILDERS AND IN TURN IT IS SOLD TO THE BUYERS – WHO HAVE BOUGHT THESE ILLEGAL PROPERTIES ON THE BASIS OF BANK LOAN APPROVALS AND THE NAME OF THE BUILDERS. NOW THESE BUYERS PAY FOR THEIR CARELESSNESS.
THIS IS NOT ONLY THE CASE – THERE ARE MANY LIKE THIS – IN THE SAME WHITEFIELD – MANOR IS ALSO UNDER BELLY FIRE – SOON THE BUYERS WILL FEEL THE HEAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!