Building plan copy sought from PCB

Patwardhan has demanded that he be allowed to the inspect the plans of the building citing the 1987 Supreme Court judgement which gives the citizens the 8220;right to know8221; any information except that which cannot be disclosed for security reasons. He cited the example of Clover Centre where shops have been constructed in the basement. 8220;It took one and half years for the cantonment board to acknowledge the fact that the rules do not permit shops,8221; he revealed.

It may be mentioned here that following the controversy over Sterling Centre Complex, the court gave a ruling which gave citizens the right to inspect building plans. He also revealed that when he went to the cantonment board office along with advocate Netra Prakash Bhog seeking permission to inspect the building plan, he was told that since a dignitary was expected in the cantonment board, it would not be possible to get to inspect the plans.

Referring to the case of advocate Netra Prakash Bhog against whom the cantonment board has threatened to file a defemation case, Patwardhan alleged that although Bhog had won many cases, the board was trying to stop him with its threat of a defamation suit.

Bhog had alleged that when he had sought the copies of the resolution passed against him in the cantonment board, he was not given these copies. When contacted, CEO Sharma stated that the copies would be available on payement and the concerned parties were supposed to collect these copies from the board8217;s office.