Karnataka HC To Initiate Contempt Proceedings Against BBMP For Failing To Compensate Victims Of Pothole Accidents

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (27 November) lambasted at the Bengaluru’s civic body for ignoring the court order of compensating the victims of accident occurred due to potholes on roads, reports The News Minute.

Slamming the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on the pothole issue, the court said that it would be going ahead with contempt proceedings against the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and leader of the ruling party in the administrative body for failing to comply with its orders.

The aforementioned order was given by the court in June this year directing BBMP to publish advertisements promising compensation to people meeting with accidents due to potholes.

"Does the Karnataka Municipal corporation act allow for potholes on roads? Does it allow illegal constructions?" questioned the Chief Justice Of Karnataka HC Abhay Oka, as per the report.

“We are not touchy about our orders. You can always challenge and get them set aside. But as long as they are in force, you have to obey them. If this (response) is accepted, tomorrow you would do the same in every matter. So, give us the names of the mayor, the deputy mayor and the leader of the ruling party and others who participated in the discussion by tomorrow 10.30 am. We will issue contempt notices to them. They must learn a lesson,” Justice Abhay Oka was quoted as saying.

In an affidavit submitted before the HC, BBMP commissioner Anil Kumar told that under the KMC Act, there was no provision to provide compensation to accident pothole-accident victims. He, as per the report, also raised concerns about possibility of huge financial burdens due to advertisements about compensation.

However, angry at the civic body officials, the HC wondered why the BBMP was not trying to find ways to implement the order if there were complications.

To this, BBMP’s lawyer, assuring the court that the required steps would be taken to follow its order, informed that the Mayor would discuss the matter with concerned officials from taxation and finance committees, and with the standing committee.