Date:10/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/10/stories/2006111008800500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

PIL on sale of land to The Hindu dismissed

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition against the sale of land on Bhagwan Mahaveer Road to The Hindu , Bangalore, saying that there was no justification for entertaining such a writ petition.

Rajendra Kumar of Byatarayanapura had filed a petition against the sale of land on Site No. 19 (Old No. 7) on Bhagwan Mahaveer Road to The Hindu by the State Government a few months ago.

He had challenged the sale of 2001 square yards of land to The Hindu for Rs. 10,70,78,000 and alleged that the property was not properly valued and that the State had suffered a loss on account of the transaction.

The petition had initially come up before a single judge, who had said that it was more in the nature of a PIL and asked that it be posted before a Division Bench. When the matter came up during the last hearing before a Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice on October 12, counsel for the petitioner sought time to produce material to show that the property was undervalued.

When the matter came up on Thursday, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph, and Justice H.G. Ramesh said the petitioner had not produced any material to back his contention.

"This court cannot entertain the writ petition on vague statements and allegations that the property was undervalued unless the court is prima facie satisfied on the basis of the materials placed on record that the property was undervalued and the State suffered any loss," the Bench said.