Authority: High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru

Order Date: 27 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Appellants – Sri J.V. Venkatesh and Sri J.V. Srinivas (owners of 3 acres in Sy. No.1A, Block 11, Jakkur Plantation Village, Yelahanka Hobli, Bengaluru North Taluk); Respondents – (1) Commissioner, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), (2) Town Planning Member, BDA, and (3) M/s Township Promoters represented by partner Sri P. Ashwin Pai.
  • Background: The appellants’ land is land‑locked; a 1995 Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) prescribed a 60 ft (≈18 m) road access. In 2006 the appellants’ father filed a complaint before the Karnataka Lokayuktha, which in 2011 issued a report (COMPT/LOK/BCD‑279/2006) directing BDA to provide an 18 m linkage road and to withdraw unauthorized permissions.
  • Judicial Trail: The Lokayuktha report was affirmed by a Division Bench of this Court in W.P. No.5434/2012, which gave BDA one month to comply. The Supreme Court dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP No.28000/2014) on 12 July 2016, giving finality to the Lokayuktha directions.
  • BDA Actions: On 17 Jan 2020 and 18 Jan 2020 BDA passed Resolution No.133/2019, cancelling the earlier Resolution No.70/2018 and adopting the 18 m road linkage. Subsequent communications (24 Nov 2020, 17 Feb 2021, 22 Jun 2022) urged Respondent 3 to submit a revised site‑development plan conforming to the 18 m road.
  • Reversal: On 5 Mar 2024 a new BDA Commissioner ordered the withdrawal of Resolution No.133/2019 and the reinstatement of Resolution No.70/2018, reducing the road width to 9.5 m. The appellants challenged this order in W.P. No.8405/2024; the single judge dismissed the petition on 7 Nov 2024, holding that Lokayuktha directions are not a decree and that BDA could revise its resolution.

Final Outcome

  • The Division Bench set aside the single judge’s order dated 07/11/2024 and quashed the BDA Commissioner’s order dated 05/03/2024.
  • Respondents 1 and 2 are directed to implement Resolution No.133/2019 (dated 17/01/2020 and 18/01/2020), which mandates an 18‑metre wide access road as per the Lokayuktha report and affirmed by the High Court and Supreme Court.
  • No order as to costs; any pending interim applications stand disposed.

Topics: Land Access, Urban Planning