The Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) is under scrutiny following its denial of a plot to S Kalavathi, the widow of CRPF soldier H Guru, who was martyred in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. The controversy centers on the allocation of approximately 4,500 plots under a disputed 50:50 scheme across 23 villages. MUDA officials informed Kalavathi that her application would be considered in the next allotment round, which has yet to occur, igniting significant public outcry.
H Guru, a soldier of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 82 Battalion, was killed on February 14, 2019, by an IED blast in Lethpur, Pulwama. In acknowledgment of his sacrifice, the Kendriya Sainik Board and the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and Rehabilitation recommended that Kalavathi receive a free plot for construction. Despite following the Board’s directive and submitting multiple applications and documents, her requests were repeatedly ignored by MUDA.
The Government order from 2000 mandates that Urban Development Authorities allocate free sites to the dependents of deceased soldiers, with specific site dimensions for commissioned and non-commissioned officers. Despite these regulations and repeated appeals, including an official letter from Brigadier (Retd) Ravi Muniswamy urging MUDA to honor the recommendation, Kalavathi’s request remains unresolved. MUDA’s failure to act on this matter has been criticized as a disregard for both government directives and the sacrifices made by soldiers.