From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Aug 16: Keeping its promise on conducting a judicial probe into the alleged irregularities in the denotification of Arkavathy layout scam, which had rocked the just concluded Karnataka Legislative Assembly session, the State Government has constituted an one-man inquiry commission headed by retired judge of Karnataka High Court, Justice H S Kempanna, to probe the issue.
Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra, who announced the constitution of the judicial inquiry commission and its terms of reference, said the government of the opinion that the controversy relating to all denotifications and modifications in the Arkavathy layout scheme was a definite matter of public importance and it was necessary to ascertain the truth of the matter through a Commission of Inquiry.
The commission has been asked to submit its report to the government as soon as possible but not later than six months from the date of its first sitting.
The headquarters of the commission will be in Bangalore, the minister said.
The minister said Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly JagadishShettar had raised this issue on the floor of the House under Rule 69 and there was a lengthy debate on the entire scheme.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had assured the House to constitute a Commission of Inquiry to get at the truth of the matter in respect of the whole controversy.
Following are the terms of reference for the inquiry:
* After issue of final notification under Sec 19(1) of Bangalore Development Authority Act 1976 dated February 23, 2004, whether the deletion/exclusion of lands by BDA and denotification of lands by the government, to a total extent of 983.33 acres are in violation of the orders of high court in writ appeal 2624-2625/2005, orders of the Supreme Court in civil appeal No 4097/2010 and other relevant court orders pertaining to ArkavathyLayout?.
* Whether the various quasi-judicial orders passed by the four land acquisition officers authorised vide notification dated June 4, 2010 bearing UDD 177MNJ 2010 are legal and valid?
* Whether the various resolutions dated May 31, 2006, September 3, 2007, February 15, 2011 and February 12, 2013 passed by the BDA to exclude from acquisition from the final notification after considering the objections raised by the landowners as per the orders of high court and supreme court are legal and valid?
* Whether the approval by the government of re-modified scheme of Arkavathylayout under Sec 18(3) of the BDA Act dated April 3, 2014 and the final notification of the re-modified scheme under Sec 19(1) of the BDA Act on June 18, 2014 are in violation of the orders of high court and the supreme court and other relevant court orders pertaining to ArkavathyLayout?
* Whether any undue favour has been shown to the landowners by the authorities while exercising their powers in relation to the terms of references mentioned above.