Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Saturday March 5 ordered Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta to file a personal affidavit explaining his conduct of disobeying the court’s order against dumping solid waste at Mittaganahalli quarry without permission from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. The court said that the time has come to make him realise what is right and what is wrong.
When Gupta appeared in court, a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice S. R. Krishna Kumar noted that officers think they are above the law. “We will make them realise what the law is,” it said.
“Nothing can be above the court order. If he (Gupta) does not understand the court order, we will have to put him in jail. How will you defend him? Let him appear in person and see what happens,” the court said to Uday Holla, who represented the BBMP.
“We had called him (Gupta) once and assured him that if you perform well, we will support you.” Despite this, solid waste dumping is continuing. We have been keeping an eye on him for a while now. This is not the first time,” it said, adding that Gupta will have another chance to file his affidavit.
The court said it will decide whether mercy can be shown after Gupta files the affidavit.
