No trees to be cut, Karnataka High Court annexe to come up at Cubbon Park

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court has given its green signal for the construction of a new High Court annexe building where the old Election Commissioner’s Office stands between the Press Club of Bangalore and old KGID building.

The court, however, made it clear that the construction as per the revised plan should be carried out without cutting any tree.

The Registrar General of the High Court had initially moved the high court, seeking permission to demolish and put up proposed construction as per the approved plan and to permit cutting and removing of 17 trees within the proposed construction area.

Mr Sriranga, an advocate for the petitioner, submitted that after filing the petition, keeping in view the judgment of the court in the G.K. Govinda Rao v/s. State of Karnataka, the PWD authorities have submitted a revised plan.

“The resultant position is that the cutting of 17 trees as proposed in the earlier plan is not necessary. Further, the plinth area has been restricted to the existing plinth area. Accordingly, the state government has passed the order September 23, 2019 stating that the Annexe Building of the High Court will be constructed after demolishing the old Election Commissioner’s Office in Cubbon Park," the advocate argued.

He submitted that the Registrar General of the court has filed an affidavit stating that in view of the revised plan, there is no question of shifting of road or removal of 17 trees as proposed in the earlier plan.

Mr Prabhuling K. Navadagi, Assistant Solicitor General appearing for the state, submitted that the state government shall construct the building strictly in accordance with the revised plan. The Karnataka High Court in Govinda Rao’s case held that no further constructions shall be made in the Cubbon Park without obtaining clearance from it.