From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 13: In a major setback to Siddaramaiah Government’s plans to regularise the unauthorised constructions in Bengaluru and other urban areas of Karnataka, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Akrama-Sakrama scheme for regularisation.
The apex court issued the stay orders on a batch of Special Leave Petitions filed by BJP MP Rajeev Chandrashekar and Namma Bengaluru Foundation challenging the Akrama-Sakrama laws.
The Supreme Court has granted interim protection that no applications made under the Akrama-Sakrama scheme shall be processed.
"This is a big win for Bengaluru," the BJP Rajya Sabha member said after the apex court’s decision on staying the Akrama-Sakrama laws.
"This collusion around public money and land lies at crux of corrupt politics in Bengaluru. Through AkramaSakrama, the State Government was more actively rewarding the culture of corruption," he said.
Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Sajan Poovayya, Senior Advocates appeared for the petitioners.
Counsel for BBMP and Karnataka presented their request for expediting the hearings, which was not allowed.
In its current form, Rajeev Chandrashekar said: "the message was a lawbreaker stands to benefit than a law-abiding citizen! It was designed to bail out builders, the rich and powerful from their illegalities who instead of being punished under law benefitting financially," he said.
The reality, according to the BJP MP, was that Akrama-Sakrama presented an avatar that legalised all illegalities of crooked real estate developers and other high income home owner-violators which was opposite of what rule of law really entails, where the law abiding citizens gain and lawbreakers are to be punished.
He further said: "In many ways, Akrama-Sakrama was symbolic of the failures of Governance and how deep vested interests have corroded and entered every facet of governance. I have repeatedly urged the State Government to consider a rethought proposal for Akrama-Sakrama that ensures benefit for the poor only and not builders and I will not allow builders and their friends in politics and Govt to run Bengaluru."
"This stay by Supreme Court is a major win and dawns the symbol of hope and triumph, appropriately so with the onset of festival," he said.