Karnataka HC orders new survey to find if temple encroached on road
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka High Court has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban district to depute the deputy director of land records and a technical team to submit a report on whether a temple there has encroached upon the road or whether the road was built around the temple.
The division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit were hearing a petition alleging that there was illegal encroachment of the road by Sri Sallapuradamma Temple, Hegganahalli Main Road, Sunkadakatte village, Bengaluru.
The road is said to have been blocked by the temple. After assessing the photograph, the high court said the temple seemed to be in the middle of the road.
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The high court had on March 8, 2021, directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to depute an officer to visit the site and file a report.
In its recent order on Thursday, the high court noted that the affidavit by the BBMP was "ambiguous and an attempt was made to create some confusion."
"We are unable to comprehend the statement which in a way indicates the situation that the road is laid around the temple. This report fails to show as to whether there is illegal encroachment and whether the temple has been standing there for ages," it said.
So to obtain a "clear report from an independent authority," the high court directed a new survey and adjourned the hearing for February 9.
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India needs aviation giants, not 'Fly-by-Night' operators, says ex-minister Praful Patel
Mumbai (PTI): Former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Friday warned against "fly-by-night" operators entering India's aviation sector, arguing that only established, high-capital players can survive the industry's "tough" financial demands.
Speaking to PTI, the 68-year-old Rajya Sabha member emphasised that while India has no restrictions on new airlines, the "tough, capital-intensive" nature of the business requires long-term commitment.
"That is why it is important that big players should come into the aviation business, and not just fly-by-night people. Some new airlines have been given licenses, but I don't think they are long-term players," he noted.
His comments come as the Civil Aviation Ministry recently approved three new carriers -- Shankh Air, Al Hind Air, and FlyExpress -- to start their operations in 2026.
Patel, who served as Civil Aviation Minister from 2004-11 under the Congress-led UPA government,
said many newly licensed airlines may lack the endurance required to survive the sector's high cash-flow drain.
"We need strong players like Tatas, who came with Air India. We need similar big names also to come into the aviation sector,” the NCP leader opined.
Asked about IndiGo’s widespread flight cancellations last month, Patel said, “IndiGo is financially a very strong airline, a very big airline. There was an issue of pilots and Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules. I wish they had handled it better.”
“Having said that, on the whole, it is still a very important player in the Indian aviation market and will remain important for many, many years to come,” the former Aviation Minister said.
The key sector needs strong players, the veteran politician emphasised.
"I think it is important that aviation needs strong players. The monopoly or duopoly is not there because somebody made it like that. In the past, you saw Jet Airways, Kingfisher and GoAir collapse financially and a series of other airlines also had these kinds of problems,” Patel said.
“That’s why, if there are strong players in aviation, it will be good for the country,” he added.
