Bombay HC asks govt to file affidavit on PIL related to parking lot allotment
11 May, 2013
An application was filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to get the details related to parking lot allotment proposals already cleared in Maharashtra.
The reply to the application from the state government of Maharashtra said that the records relating to proposals cleared since November 2010 were destroyed in the Mantralaya fire. The reply also claimed that the after the fire incident no proposals were cleared. However, reply from the municipal corporation (BMC) stated that a proposal was cleared on July 6 i.e. fifteen days after the fire incident.
Based on such contradictory replies from different government bodies, the applicant has filed an affidavit with the Bombay High Court alleging corruption in the allotment of public parking lots to developer firms.The petitioner alleged that high political authorities are misusing their powers to withhold approvals to the proposals, meanwhile resorting to corrupt practices. The petitioner demanded an investigation into the already cleared proposals for public parking and a status quo till the investigation is completed.
A bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha of the Bombay High Court has directed the state government to file an affidavit in this regard.