Karnataka

Order on land acquisition stayed

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday stayed the order it had passed last week upholding the acquisition of land near Devanahalli by the Government for the construction of a trumpet junction to connect Bangalore city to the international airport.

Girias Investment Corporation had challenged the acquisition of land by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) for the construction of a trumpet junction connecting the National Highway.

The KIADB, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and the State had urged the court to dismiss the petition.

Justice Ajit Gunjal had, last week, dismissed the petition and upheld the acquisition of land.

On Thursday, the petitioner once again moved the court of Mr. Gunjal, seeking a stay on the order.

The petitioner said a stay is needed for it to appeal against the order.

Mr. Gunjal stayed his order for two weeks, to enable the petitioners to appeal against the order.

Justice Rammohan Reddy on Thursday directed the Government and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) to file a report on the land on which a portion of Diamond District had come up on Airport Road.

The court had on the last occasion directed the Tourism Secretary to file a report on the manner in which the land belonging to the KSTDC had been given to a private entrepreneur for development.

The report filed by the Secretary had detailed the manner in which the land had come to be transferred and also the officials and politicians involved in the deal.

When the matter came up today, the court sought a further report on the issue and adjourned the case.

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