SC revives Shivaram Karanth layout project, Bengaluru development body to acquire land

The Supreme Court has directed the Karnataka government and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to issue final notification on land acquisition for the proposed Dr K Shivaram Karanth Layout, giving the shelved project a new lease of life. The layout project, which promises close to 19,000 sites, had been struck down by the high court in 2015 following multiple cases against the preliminary notification for land acquisition. The BDA had approached the SC against the high court order. Though the preliminary notification for the layout, proposed to be developed between Hesaraghatta and Doddaballapur roads was issued in 2008, the project ran into trouble with several land owners approaching the high court. In the meantime, there were controversies about some patches of notified land being left out allegedly due to political pressure and lobbying. “It is apparent from the circumstances that the matter cannot be left to the mercy of unscrupulous authority of the BDA, the state government or in the political hands. Considering the planned development of Bengaluru, let the government issue a final notification with respect to the land which has been notified in the initial notification. There’s no question of leaving out of the land as option has been given to owners to claim the land or compensation under the relevant LA (Land Acquisition) Act,” the SC said on Friday, quashing theorders passed by the single judge and the division bench of the Karnataka high court in the matter.