Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jun 11:  Protracted political one-upmanship had ensured that the sites granted to the beneficiaries under the ‘Ashraya’ housing scheme of the government remained inaccessible to them for over six years. The dispute has ended, with the state High Court on Wednesday June 10, announcing its verdict that favours the poor beneficiaries.

In the year 2003, 244 persons were granted house sites under 'Ashraya' scheme in Chara village located within Hebri gram panchayat limits. The revenue department had raised objections for the said allotment made by the Hebri panchayat. After various objections, investigations and legal wrangles, the High Court has now upheld the decision of the panchayat.

In the early stages, the revenue department had treated the panchayat decision of granting the land for 'Ashraya' beneficiaries as void. The beneficiaries had complained to the then Lokayukta Justice Venkatachala, who ordered the sites to be given to respective beneficiaries. Still, the deputy commissioner refused to permit distribution of house sites. Thereafter, a petition was filed in the High Court. The High Court has set aside the objections raised by the revenue department and paved way for the distribution of sites to the original beneficiaries.

The Congress and the BJP were at loggerheads relating to this issue. Advocate Kerebettu Prasanna Shetty represented the beneficiaries in the High Court.

As soon as the verdict came out, the people in general and the beneficiaries in particular, expressed their elation by bursting crackers in Hebri. MLA H Gopal Bhandary, block Congress president H Prasanna Ballal, the then Hebri panchayat president Nire Krishna Shetty who fought for the beneficiaries, current resident of Hebri panchayat H Jayakar Poojary, Citizens Welfare Committee president Kerebettu Sanjeev Shetty and many others have welcomed the verdict, treating it as a victory for the legitimate struggle of the beneficiaries.