Setback for former B’luru civic body Commissioner as HC sets aside clean chit

Court

M Lakshmi Narayana, IAS, was embroiled in controversy after he granted a trade licence to an eatery named 154 Breakfast Club in Koramangala.

TNM Staff

In a setback to Karnataka-cadre IAS officer M Lakshmi Narayana, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday quashed a clean chit given to him in connection with a controversy regarding trade licence he issued to a Koramangala restaurant in 2016. When Lakshmi Narayana was the BBMP Commissioner, he granted a trade licence to an eatery named 154 Breakfast Club. This was opposed by residents in the area and the Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF), who approached the Urban Development Department. Additional Chief Secretary Mahendra Jain was then approached, who gave Lakshmi Naryana a clean chit after probing the allegation. Following this, NBF and residents approached the High Court. Residents alleged that the entire process was fast-tracked allegedly at the behest of Lakshmi Narayana, and said that the trade licence was illegal as it was a residential area. The High Court said that  Additional Chief Secretary Mahendra Jain was not the concerned authority to probe Lakshmi Narayana and hence, set aside his findings. The bench comprising Chief Justice AS Oka and Justice Dinesh Kumar said that NBF can approach the Department of Administration and Personnel Reform. In his probe, Jain had noted "lack of administrative prudence" rather than "malafide" intentions on Lakshminaryana's part. Citing lack of authority, Jain had then said he did not have powers to act further on the matter. Lakshmi Narayana retired from service earlier in 2019. Reacting to the order, Suresh NR, Director of NBF, said: “The Namma Bengaluru Foundation welcomes the Hon’ble High Court order and are determined to ensure prosecution of those officials who are complicit in violating laws.” The issue in mid-2016 had spiralled into a major controversy as the restaurant in question is co-owned by  Pranav, son of ex-Infosys CEO Mohandas Pai. According to Revised Master Plan of 2015 which was in effect then, the granting of licenses to the eatery was illegal as the land fell into a residential main zone. Even an interim order by the HC had cautioned BBMP against issuing trade licenses to establishments in residential areas.      

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from Karnataka http://bit.ly/2QzxgOF
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