Bombay HC fumes over construction of godown on open land in Pune to store EVMs

The Bombay High Court on Thursday expressed its displeasure over the proposed usage of a plot of land in Pune reserved as open space to construct a godown to store EVMs electronic voting machines and VVPAT voter verifiable paper audit trail machinesA division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor noted what concerned it was not the change of use of the plot but the manner in which it was being done by district authorities without following any procedure mandated in law sending a wrong signal in the processWe understand conducting elections is an overwhelming public purpose in our democracy but even for this law should be followed CJ Upadhyaya observed adding What else is lawlessness if we permit thisPolling for the Pune Lok Sabha seat will be held on May 13A Pune resident Prashant Raul had filed a public interest litigation PIL in the HC claiming the Metro Eco Park at Ravet in the western Maharashtra city was proposed to be used to construct a godown to store EVMs and VVPAT machinesRauls advocate Ronita Bhattacharya told the bench that the site was reserved as a recreational space for citizens and around 600 plants and trees have been planted there as part of compensatory plantation for the Pune Metro projectAs per the plea in February a letter was sent by the Maharashtra government to the district collector for usage of the open space and an adjacent plot both belonging to the Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority to construct a godownThe adjacent plot was reserved for government purposesThe district collector then took possession of the two plots and began construction activityThe High court however queried as to how possession of the land was taken without following any procedureHow was it done Is there any law which permits such a requisition without compensation We understand conducting elections is an overwhelming public purpose in our democracy but even for this law should be followed CJ Upadhyaya saidWhat concerns us is not the change of use of the plot but the manner in which it is being done It sends a wrong signal What else is lawlessness if we permit this A lay man may think oh this is an important thing for elections but no the HC chief justice remarkedThe court questioned if the authorities plan to leave any open space for citizens or just make a concrete jungleSenior counsel Ashutosh Kumbhakoni appearing for the district collector told the court the godown was being constructed on the plot reserved for government purposesWe are not going to construct anything on the plot reserved as an open space and we are not going to fell any tree in that open space Kumbhakoni assured the courtThe bench accepted the statement and posted the matter for further hearing on June 18 and directed all respondents to file their affidavits by thenThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever