HC slams BBMP over tall claim

The Karnataka High Court has come down heavily on BBMP for its failure to prepare an action plan even after 21 days of the lockdown.

The court has directed the state government  to ensure that BBMP complies with its obligations to protect the interests of migrants and the homeless living on the streets.

 A special division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice B.V. Nagarathna issued the direction as BBMP could not provide any data of migrants and homeless persons living on the streets, or a plan to identify and protect such persons during the lockdown. The bench was hearing through video conferencing PILs related to the lockdown.

The court expressed its unhappiness over BBMP’s claim that it has secured data from the Labour Department that there are about 61,000 migrant workers in the city. The BBMP officer concerned was taken to task for claiming that the civic agency had supplied food to 8 lakh persons and around 68,000 ration kits were distributed.

The bench adjourned further hearing till April 21 while directing the government to submit a report of compliance by coordinating with the officers of BBMP. Even if BBMP prepares a report to be submitted to the court, it should be approved by the ACS (UDD).