Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 23: The state high court, on Wednesday February 22, issued bailable warrant against the commissioner of the city corporation here. The warrant pertains to the alleged delaying tactics employed by the officer with regard to shifting a bidi manufacturing unit functioning from  a residential area in Kulur here.

A citizen, Ravi D'Souza, had complained against Sadhoo Bidi unit at Kulur, alleging that smoke and other smelly emissions from the industry have been polluting the environment in the residential area where it has been set up. D'Souza has stated that Padugody near Kulur is a residential area with a number of houses and educational institutions around. He has blamed the bidi unit for various health problems suffered by locals and requested the city corporation to shift the unit from the area.

Relating to a case filed in this connection, the HC had instructed the city corporation commissioner to appear before it in person. However, the officer chose to remain absent from the high court without giving any reason for his absence. The presiding officer of the single judge bench of the HC, Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, who expressed resentment at this absence, issued a bailable warrant.   duly specifying the bail amount as Rs 50,000.

The case has now been posted to March 27 for the personal appearance of the commissioner.