2012 Supreme(Kar) 560
High Court of Karnataka
N. KUMAR & V. SURI APPA RAO, JJ.
Mrs. Kamini Srinivasan Kurpad
Versus
Ms. Malathi Rau & Others
Writ Appeal Nos. 16532-533 & 17248-273 of 2011 (LB-BMP)
Decided on : 17-10-2012
For the Appellant:Udaya Holla, Sr. Counsel, for M/s Holla & Holla, Advocates.
For the Respondents:K.G. Raghavan, Sr. Counsel, K.N. Puttegowda, Advocate.
Headnote:KARNATAKA TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT, 1961 - Sections 2 (3-b), 13, 14 & 14-A: [N. Kumar & V. Suri Appa Rao, JJ] Plan sanctioned by Bangalore City Corporation for putting up multi-storied commercial complex - Single Judge quashed the sanction plan granted - Writ Appeal - Held, The right to build on his own land is a right incidental to the ownership of that land. Within the city the exercise of that right has been regulated in the interest of the community residing within the limits of the city. The power, to restrict the use of land by the owners thereof, is a drastic power. The designation or reservation of the land and its use results in severe abridgement of the right to property. Statutory provisions enabling the State or its authorities to impose restrictions on the right to use one’s own land are required to be construed strictly. Law cannot be so interpreted as would cause oppression or be unjust. Courts must make an endeavour to strike a balance between public interest on the one hand and protection of a constitutional right to hold property, on the other. Learned Single Judge has read the provisions of 4.1 and 4.2 of the Regulations disjunctively and has come to the conclusion which runs counter to the spirit behind the said provisions. Order of Single Judge was set aside.
N. Kumar, J.
These appeals are preferred against the order of the Learned Single Judge who has quashed the sanction plan dated 16/9/2010 granted to the appellant by the Bangalore City Corporation for construction of office accommodation in her site. For the purpose of convenience, the parties are referred to as they are referred to in the writ petition.
2. The subject-matter of this proceeding is a property bearing No.41/7, 15th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore – 03, measuring 1213 sq.mtrs. The 4th respondent made an application to the 3rd respondent for sanction of the plan to put up construction there on. A sanctioned plan was issued on 16/9/2010 for putting up construction of a multi-storied commercial complex comprising basement, ground and 3 upper floors and a terrace. On coming to know of the said sanction, the petitioners filed representation before the corporation authorities contending that the said sanction is in violation of Zoning Regulations and requested for its cancellation. When their representations did not yield any result, they filed W.P.10931/11 and 11957-12027/11 for a mandamus directing the 2nd respondent to consider their representation. By an order dated 24/3/2011, the said writ petitions came to be dismissed on the ground that the petitioners cannot prosecute parallel remedy and therefore they were directed to pursue their remedy before the Commissioner. It was made clear that, dismissal of the writ petitions would not come in the way of the Corporation considering the said representation. In spite of the said order being brought to the notice of the authorities, their representation was not considered. Therefore petitioners were constrained to file W.P.17567-591/11 for quashing the impugned sanction plan and for a mandamus to consider their representation. The said writ petitions were allowed and a direction was issued to the authorities to consider their representation after giving an opportunity to the petitioners. After considering their representation and hearing of the parties, the Corporation passed an order dated 7/6/2011 holding that the plan which they have sanctioned, is strictly in accordance with the bye-laws and therefore no case for cancellation of the plan was made out. Aggrieved by the said order, petitioners preferred writ petition before this court. The said writ petition, after contest, came to be allowed on 30/8/2011 by the impugned order, upholding the contention of the petitioners that the sanction plan was in violation of the building bye-laws. Aggrieved by the said order, the 4th respondent has preferred these appeals.
3. Sri Udaya Holla, learned Sr. Counsel appearing for the appellant contended, the property in question is situated within the residential zone. No doubt in the Zoning Regulations of Revised Master Plan 2015, a distinction is made between Residential (Main) and Residential (Mixed). In both the cases without obtaining change of land use, a particular extent of the property could be used for commercial purpose. If the property is situated in residential (Main), 20% of the total built up area or 50 sq.mtrs. could be used for commercial use, whereas 30% of the total built up area could be used for commercial use if the property is within the Residential (Mixed). However if the frontage is 10 mtrs. or more in the case of Residential (Main) and 15 mtrs. in the case of Residential (Mixed), if the plot size is up to 360 sq.mtrs., or up to 240 sq.mtrs., respectively, the entire area could be used for commercial use. At the same time if the road width is 18 mtrs., then the entire area could be used for commercial use. Even though in Table No.11 dealing with Residential (Mixed), plot size is mentioned as above 240 sq.mtrs., up to 1000 sq. mtrs., road width is 18 mtrs., if the plot size is above 1000, then Table No.10 applies and the entire area could be used for commercial purpose. Therefore the authorities keeping in mind the object with which these Zonal Regulations