UNDERSTANDING AKRAMA - SAKRAMA

UNDERSTANDING “AKRAMA – SAKRAMA” SCHEME
This is an attempt to understand the scheme in its proper perspective as this is one of the most controversial and misunderstood schemes as the title itself is misleading (!) and people at the helm of affairs who tried to introduce this have miserably failed to present the true and correct picture to the general public.

Let’s try to understand before we mis-understand.

INTRODUCTION & IMPORTANCE IN THE CURRENT SCENARIO:
‘Akrama – Sakrama’ is back in news again. This much awaited scheme has been mired in political controversy from the very inception. There has been a strong opposition by some citizen action groups while political parties, as usual, have created hue and cry for narrow political reasons.
Since the matter has gone up to the High Court of Karnataka in an action brought under a batch of Public Interest Litigations challenging the legality of it and, and during the pendency of those PIL’s, the Governor too has returned the amended Bill for reconsideration, it has become a hot subject in the political arena.
Besides, the Bangalore Municipal Corporation [ BBMP] and the state government are expecting huge revenue to the tune of approximately Rs.10,000=00 [ Rs.Ten Thousand crores] out of this scheme, if implemented. Hence, it has got far reaching socio – political and economic implications. As per one estimate, more than three lakhs applicants are anxiously waiting to get their regularisations done based on the implementation of this scheme across the State.
However, with the latest remarks of much respected Justice Santhosh Hegde, a crusader against corruption as Lokayuktha of Karnataka, stating that the ‘Akrama Sakrama’ scheme is nothing but “illegal” and also in view of the direction of High Court to the state government to “take a fresh look at it” and posting the next date of hearing with a very short date for the definite stand of the government, the issue has again got heated up and is taking its momentum.
This scheme has widely been perceived as an attempt to “legalise the illegal” and implementation thereof is going to lead to haphazard growth of the urban space which is already choked in traffic congestion and witnessing the hazards of unorganised growth.
The latest development is the direction given by the division bench of the High Court of Karnataka comprising Chief Justice J.S.Khehar and Justice A.S.Bopanna to the state government to have a fresh look at it has also made the authorities to burn the midnight oil as the scheme is reaching a crucial and critical stage before the court of law.
This is a classic example of utter failure of the administration in formulating the policy with clarity, framing the necessary legislation flawlessly and its effective implementation in a systematic manner leading to such a chaotic situation affecting the real stake holders i.e the affected citizens. [Both the applicants as well as general public].

Hence, this effort to understand the scheme from its proper perspective.