The Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BMP), in 1976, leased out land measuring 3,000 sq yards in a prime location on Miller’s Road for just Rs 100 per annum for 99 years. Now, the same property is fetching Rs 28 lakh per month as rent for the lessee, according to a PIL which came up before the high court on Tuesday.
Hearing the plea seeking directions to BBMP to restore the property and its possession, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen ordered notices to the principal secretary, ministry of urban development and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Petitioner S. Umesh contended: “It is a reflection of clear maladministration which affects the financial health of the government. The conditions of the lease stipulates that the lessee (K. Sampathraj) should not sub-let the premises to any third party and, in the event of any violation of the lease conditions, the corporation is at liberty to take back possession of the land. He further pleaded the court to direct the private party to ensure that the rent collected from the tenants of the leased property should be deposited in the court so that the corporation should not suffer any loss.