Bengaluru: The High Court on Thursday ordered issue of notices to the State government, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Pailke (BBMP) and Shantinagar constituency MLA N.A. Haris on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition questioning the proposed open street festival scheduled to be held on January 15 on 100 feet road in HAL 2nd Stage.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice Budihal R.B. passed the order on the petition filed by former director-general and inspector general of police C. Dinakar.
The bench asked the government counsel to seek instruction on the plight of residents in case of a medical emergency when traffic is blocked for the entire day and temporary stalls would be put up as part of the event.
“As far as schools and offices are concerned, one can apply for leave for a day. But there is no casual leave before Yamaraj,” the Chief Justice orally observed while asking the government counsel seek instruction from the authorities concerned by January 10.
Earlier, Dinakar, who personally argued his case, pointed out that Haris has no locus standi to organise the event, reportedly for promoting tourism in the area, as he is not the elected representatives of HAL II Stage. He pointed out that closure of the road would only cause inconvenience to residents as well as regular users of the road, which is an arterial road.
Pointing out that ‘open street festivals’ are held in some Western countries in areas with tourism potential and negligible traffic, the petitioner alleged that the January 15 event is a personal one organised Haris and the stark reality is that it is a money-making proposition, which will cause harassment to the residents.
