Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 13: The state high court (HC) has directed Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner to raze to the ground a building constructed by former zilla panchayat president, Sucharita Shetty, in Kadandale village in Mangaluru taluk. The order came in the form of judgment relating to a petition filed by Shanta Shetty from Kadandale village, alleging that Shetty had built an RCC building in the agricultural land owned by her in that village..

Justice Mohan Reddy, who heard the case, noted that Sucharita Shetty had constructed an RCC building in agricultural land illegally without obtaining prior permission as required from the panchayat development officer. He ordered for the eviction of people living in the building, demolition of the building in question, and also collection of fine for constructing a building by violating rules in vogue.

The single judge bench also instructed the DC to take suitable action against extension officer of the taluk, and Paladka gram panchayat development officer, Rajendra Prasad Shetty, for not taking action to stop illegal construction of building by Sucharita Shetty in agricultural land. The bench noted that these officials were fully aware of the fact that this building was coming up in agricultural land in violation of Karnataka Land Reforms Act, and hence their failure to act is tantamount to dereliction of duty.

Shanta Shetty owns land in Kadandale, and Sucharita Shetty had taken initiatives to construct a building in her land. Shetty had argued that he has a share in the said property. Shanta had filed a suit against Shetty in a subordinate court, but during this period, the building construction was completed.

Aggrieved by this, Shanta Shetty had approached the HC seeking demolition of this structure. The HC, in addition to ordering demolition of the building, also instructed the subordinate court to dispose of the civil suit pending before it before February 2015.