Karnataka High Court restricts Bidadi Township project activities

The Karnataka High Court has issued a strict directive to the state government regarding the Bidadi Township project, ordering that no trees be cut and no bricks be moved without explicit court permission. The ruling follows a writ petition filed by four farmers challenging the land acquisition process for the Bidadi Smart City project.

Justice R Nataraj, presiding over a single-judge bench, reprimanded the government for potential abrupt actions, stating, “How can you bring a bulldozer immediately after fixing the compensation amount? The government should not indulge in overnight destruction of property.” The court emphasized that no coercive action can be taken against farmers until the High Court grants permission, even after compensation amounts are announced.

In response, the Advocate General for the state government assured the court that no farmers will be forcibly evicted and that the land acquisition process remains in its preliminary stages. The government committed to presenting compensation details to the High Court before proceeding further.