The Karnataka High Court passed an interim order on Thursday stopping the Karnataka Government Secretariat (KGS) Club from constructing a swimming pool or any other construction in Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park area. 

The division bench comprising Justice John Michael Cunha and Justice HT Narendra Prasad passed the order while hearing a case based on a PIL petition filed by Bengaluru-based advocate Niyazuddin MK. 

As per a report by The Hindu, the petitioner stated that the construction of a swimming pool had been cleared in violation of a law that bars construction in the iconic Cubbon Park area, a green space in the central area of Bengaluru city. The petition also stated that the construction of the swimming pool was going ahead based on a promise made by office-bearers at the time of elections last year and also alleged that the club is currently functioning on government property even though the lease on the premises had expired over 20 years ago in 1997. 

According to Deccan Herald, the petitioner stated that the lease commenced in 1987 and expired in 1997. It was not renewed after its expiry and the club is not a government body but a private entity occupying a government building. 

Moreover, the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act does not allow construction work to be taken up in the Cubbon Park area. In the past, the Karnataka Lawn Tennis Association and Century Club had plans of building a swimming pool in the area but the proposals came under criticism.