Relief for Yeddyurappa in land case

BANGALORE: The High Court on Friday stayed the proceedings in the lower court against former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa in connection with a private complaint (PCR 3) filed against him by two city-based advocates Sirajin Basha and K N Balraj in a case relating to denotification of land at Arakere, Geddalahalli and Devarachikkanahalli.Yeddyurappa has been granted interim stay by the High Court till October 14, 2011 in two private complaints of which hearing in one of the bail petitions was scheduled before the Lokayukta special court on October 3.A single bench headed by Justice B S Patil allowed the prayer seeking an interim stay.Justice Patil also made serious comments against Hasmath Pasha, the counsel for Basha and Balraj, for seeking a week’s time to argue on the main matter saying, “Conduct of the counsel for the petitioner in the private complaint is abusive of the process of the court and has been obstructing the functioning of the court. Even after five days of hearing, the counsel is still not willing to argue on merits. This is a clear act to drag the matter.” Stating that the complainant has adopted ingenious methods to prolong the hearing, the court had stayed the proceedings.When counsel for the petitioner Jayakumar Patil sought interim relief in Complaint No 4, (denotification of land at Rachenahalli, Uttarahalli, Chitradurga and Hosadurga), the counsel for the respondent objected stating that he had filed a caveat and it cannot be stayed.   The counsel could not immediately produce the caveat in the court. However, after he sent for the copy, Justice Patil granted stay observing the caveat was not connected to Complaint No. 4.