Karnataka HC signs off on construction of its Annexe Building sans cutting of trees in Cubbon Park area

The Karnataka High Court last week green signalled the proposed construction of its Annexe Building without the cutting of any trees in Bangalore’s Cubbon Park area, where the High Court is located..The order was passed by Justice PS Dinesh Kumar in a petition seeking the High Court’s permission to construct the Annexe Building in place of the old Election Commissioner’s office located between the Press Club and the old state insurance department building. .As per the initial plan, the construction would involve the cutting of seventeen trees in the surrounding area..However, on considering the High Court’s ruling in GK Govinda Rao v. State of Karnataka, the Public Works Department submitted a revised plan. As per this new plan, the need to cut down the trees in the area was dispensed with..In GK Govinda Rao, the High Court in 2002 prohibited any construction within the Cubbon Park area without the permission of the Court. In line with this ruling, the Registrar General of the Karnataka High Court filed the petition in question..Appearing on behalf of the Registrar General, Advocate Sriranga submitted an affidavit stating that in view of the revised plan, there was no need to fell the trees or to shift the road..Advocate General Prabhuling Navadagi submitted that the state government would construct the Annexe Building strictly according to the revised plan..In light of these submissions, the High Court allowed the writ petition and granted permission to construct the Annexe Building in terms of the revised plan, without the cutting down of trees..Read the order: