Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 21: The high court (HC) has upheld the government order seeking payment of Rs 982 crore towards encroachment of 77 acres 19 guntas of government land for the construction of Eagleton Golf Resort in Bidadi taluk, Ramanagara district. The government had ordered Chamundeshwari Builttech Private Ltd to pay the amount.

The order was issued by a single judge bench of the HC presided over by Justice G Narendar.

The bench criticized the company for illegally encroaching upon government land and dragging the case for decades together. It said such behaviour cannot be tolerated. "The petitioner company should be aware of its rights and duties. It has used the case to cover up its illegal activities," the bench opined.

The bench also said that the company will have to pay a penalty for using government land for two decades. "The petitioner has been saying that the ministry has fixed a high market price for the land. It has not tried to scientifically calculate the actual market price of the land in the market," the court observed.

Chamundeshwari Builtdtech company had planned to build a world class golf course in the name of Eagleton Golf Resort in 1996. It had identified 400 acres of land and bought it and also encroached upon 77 acres of government land adjoining the said land.