HC suggests new road plan to Defence

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Friday suggested that the Defence Authority construct an alternative road for the public who were denied the use of Saber Line Road in JC Nagar near Modi Garden.Way back in 2003, Parachute Regiment Training Centre (PRTC) acquired Saber Line Road claiming ownership over it. Immediately after the move, it declared that the public would not be allowed to use the road. The local residents approached the court, stating that the PRTC should open the road for public use.The court directed the PRTC to leave the road for public use.Despite agreeing to leave the road for public use, the PRTC failed to do so. It, however, maintained in the court that the road was left for public use.The petitioner, A R Suresh and others, filed a contempt petition in the High Court, stating that the PRTC even after the court orders did not leave the road for public use and a submitted false statement to the court.The then Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice A S Bopanna, who heard the petition, ordered contempt notices to the Central government, the PRTC, Karnataka, Kerala Sub Area Command, and State Defence for making false statement on August 12 and adjourned further hearing of the case for four weeks.When the matter came up before a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice A S Bopanna on Friday, it suggested that the Defence Authority should construct an alternative road in JC Nagar near Modi Garden for the use of the public.The respondents stated that they could not construct an alternative road on Defence Authority premises as it was a security issue.The court then said: “After all we are Indians, and we have to help the public.” The court has finally given two weeks’ time to Defence Authority to come out with a solution.