Former HC judge protests to CM

Mangalore Today News Network

Apr 21, 2016: According to reports,  former judge of the High Court of Karnataka and High Court of Bombay Justice Michael F. Saldanha has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying that the news that the CM was to lay the foundation stone for a new complex of government offices at Padil has pained him immensely.

The letter dated April 18, said that the office complex  “is planned to rise from the graveyard of a heritage bio-diversity park at Padil.”  The former judge said that there are at least 10 other vacant sites in Mangaluru which could be used for building the complex.

He went on to say that it is unfortunate that the Karnataka Govt has rubbished correct public opinion and is  taking the lead in using force in destroying this forest.  He said that it was unfortunate that Forest Minister B. Ramanath Rai was also supporting the project to come up on the same site.  “…This forest is an ancient history,  a land mark in the region and the city of Mangaluru…” .