HC upholds amendment to BDA Act

bangalore: the karnataka high court has upheld the constitutional validity of the recent amendment made to the bangalore development authority act by means of an ordinance promulgated by the governor on june 22, 2000. mr justice r v raveendran and mr justice v g sabhahit dismissed on monday a batch of 94 writ petitions challenging the constitutionality of the bda (amendment) ordinance of 2000 by which section 38-c of the act was deleted.the deleted section had made provision to regularise unauthorised constructions standing on bda acquired land on certain conditions provided they had been constructed prior to january 1, 1995. hc grants time to file report acting chief justice ashok bhan and justice r g gururajan of the karnataka high court at the request of the government advocate granted two weeks time to enable the government to report on the setting up of special courts to try and dispose of cases under the tada act in respect of about 121 undertrials said to be men of veerappan and in custody for more than five years awaiting trial. earlier the high court had on the administrative side suggested to the government to take steps to set up special courts and on its part would appoint judges for the purpose. the bench had directed the government to report as to the action taken on the suggestion. petition dismissed the election petition challenging the election of chandrakanth ballad to the legislative assembly filed by the defeated congress candidate s r morey was dismissed on monday by justice chinappa of the high court.