The Dharwad Bench of the High Court on Tuesday refused to grant a stay on the Belagavi Urban Development Authority’s (BUDA) order cancelling the land-use change of the Jai Kisan Private Wholesale Vegetable Market, marking a setback for its directors and traders.
BUDA had last week annulled the land-use change for the 10-acre, 20-gunta market on the city outskirts, citing multiple violations. In response, market management, traders, and farmers staged protests before various authorities and demonstrated at the BUDA office on Monday, demanding the withdrawal of the order.
Farmer leader Sidagouda Modagi, president of Bharatiya Krishik Samaj (United), who has long opposed the private market, argued the case through advocates Nitin Bolabandi and Anant Mandagi. After hearing both sides, the court declined interim relief and adjourned the matter to September 12.
Meanwhile, tensions continue between the market’s directors and whistleblowers Rajiv Topannavar, Sujit Mulgund, and Modagi. On Wednesday, Topannavar demanded an unconditional apology from the directors within three days for allegedly holding them responsible for the death of small trader Ismail Mujawar.
In a statement, Topannavar clarified that Mujawar, who recently died, had been suffering from health problems and was distressed by alleged harassment from the market association over balance payments, despite paying an advance for a shop. He further alleged that over 200 traders face uncertainty as the association issued only provisional allotment letters without executing registered sale deeds, leaving ownership rights unresolved.
