Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 8: "Are you not ashamed of seeking lacs of rupees from people who submit applications seeking land conversion? How come you do not feel bad at doing this thing that can be compared to eating of dung? There is no difference between you people and beggars. Revenue officials have turned land conversion into a business. Therefore, I suggest you to remove the board of the revenue department and replace it with the board which reads as 'Beggars Colony'. If I find that you have committed wrong, I will not only order Central Bureau of Investigation probe but also send you behind the bars," warned the high court when taking Bengaluru rural deputy commissioner, S Palaiah, and his office assistant, Narasimha Murthy, to task on Thursday December 7.

Bengaluru rural deputy commissioner S Palaiah

Karnataka Apellate Authority had directed deputy commissioner of Bengaluru rural district to convert two acres and two guntas of agricultural land in Devanahalli standing in the name of Mangilal for non-agricultural purpose. Mangilal had accordingly approached the deputy commissioner for land conversion but the deputy commissioner refused to permit it, by taking the stand that Mangilal had violated certain conditions. Mangilal thereafter had approached high court with the complaint that the deputy commissioner had failed to obey the order of KAT.

The case came up before the single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice s N Satyanarayana on Thursday December 7. Both Palaiah and Narasimha Murthy were present. When the judge sought to know why land conversion had not been affected in spite of KAT order, the officials were found to be fumbling for answers.

"There are complaints that you seek lacs of rupees when considering land conversion applications. Are you not ashamed to do so? I get two lac rupees a month but many a time during month end we keep worrying about how to meet balance expenses during the month end. But you people move around in BMW,Benz and Audi cars, and go to Windsor Manor Hotel to have coffee or breakfast. You live in luxury. Wherefrom do you get money for all these?" he wanted to know.

The officer was asked to submit affidavit before 10 am on Friday explaining why land conversion was not affected. He was told that if there are wrongs in the affidavit, probe by Central Bureau of Investigation would be ordered. "I will decide whether you should be sent by red bus or to another spot by jeep" the judge said before adjourning the hearing.