Kogilu demolition: PIL filed in High Court challenging government’s move to demolish houses
Bengaluru: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the High Court questioning the state government’s action of demolishing around 300 houses in the Kogilu locality near Yelahanka, citing them as illegal constructions.
The petition has been filed by Kogilu residents Jaiba Tabassum, Rehana and Areef Begum. The state government, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Bengaluru Police Commissioner and the Bengaluru North taluk Tahsildar have been named as respondents. The petition is yet to be listed for hearing before the court.
In the plea, the petitioners alleged that houses in Wasim and Fakir colonies were demolished without issuing any prior notice and without hearing the residents. It has been stated that many of the affected residents belong to the Muslim community and that several families possess documents related to their houses.
The petition pointed out that BBMP officials are required to issue a show-cause notice and grant at least 15 days’ time before clearing alleged encroachments. The Supreme Court has also laid down guidelines stating that houses should not be demolished using bulldozers without issuing written notice and providing an opportunity for hearing. The petition alleged that these directions were violated and that the demolitions were carried out in complete disregard of Supreme Court orders.
It has further been stated that the demolition led to the destruction of uniforms, textbooks and hall tickets belonging to hundreds of students studying in nearby government schools, severely affecting their education and future.
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The petitioners have sought directions to provide rehabilitation or alternative housing within a five-kilometre radius for all displaced residents of Fakir and Wasim colonies after conducting a proper survey. They have also demanded compensation for the houses that were demolished after years of effort, as well as directions to provide appropriate medical treatment to those injured during the eviction drive.
The plea has also raised concerns about the risk of infectious diseases among people rendered homeless and has sought directions to set up temporary medical camps at the site to ensure immediate access to healthcare. It has requested the authorities to issue duplicate hall tickets to students whose original documents were destroyed, allowing them to appear for examinations, and to provide affected students with textbooks, notebooks, study materials and uniforms.
Seeking action under contempt of court, the petition has urged the High Court to initiate proceedings against officials responsible for the demolitions for violating Supreme Court guidelines. It has further sought to fix personal liability on officials for the loss and damage caused, and to ensure immediate supply of clean drinking water and nutritious food to affected persons, including women, the elderly and persons with disabilities. The petition also called for the construction of separate temporary toilets for men and women, and adequate security arrangements for women and children in the affected area.
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Expelled Cong MLA Mamkootathil gets bail in sexual assault case
Pathanamthitta(Kerala) (PTI): A Kerala court on Wednesday granted bail to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the third sexual assault case against him, in which he was arrested earlier this month.
The bail was granted by the Pathanamthitta District Sessions Court, which was considering an appeal filed by the MLA against a judicial magistrate's court that had denied him relief, stating that the allegations against him were serious and that he had "similar antecedents".
The third sexual assault case was registered against the Palakkad MLA under Sections 376 (rape) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), following a complaint lodged by a woman from Kottayam district on 8 January. He was arrested in the case on January 11 in Palakkad.
The Kerala High Court and a sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram had earlier protected the MLA from arrest in the first two sexual assault cases, which were registered based on complaints from two different women.
