Karnataka Assembly passes apartment ownership bill amid opposition protest

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Aug 22, 2026: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026, even as the Opposition continued its protest for the fifth consecutive day, demanding the resignation of Planning and Statistics Minister B Nagendra over his alleged involvement in a scam.

Introducing the Bill, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said rapid urbanisation had led to several challenges for apartment residents, particularly concerning ownership and management of common areas such as roads, clubhouses and open spaces.

“There is no legal clarity on the reconstruction of older buildings. The 1972 Act and the UPA-era RERA Act are there, but they do not answer all questions,” he said.

Gowda noted that some Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) were registered under the 1972 Act, while others had registered under the Cooperative Societies Act. The new legislation, he said, would bring all RWAs under a common legal framework.

Under the proposed law, an old apartment building can be redeveloped if 75% of the individual apartment owners agree to the proposal. Those who do not consent would have the value of their share of the land assessed and would be paid twice that amount, Gowda said.

He added that competent authorities would be established at the Gram Panchayat, municipality and municipal corporation levels to resolve disputes. Affected parties would be able to approach these authorities, with provisions for appeals also included in the legislation.

Gowda recalled that Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had met apartment owners and discussed their concerns when he was Deputy Chief Minister in the previous Siddaramaiah government.

“We cannot say we have adequately addressed every problem. But we have brought a comprehensive law. If any reforms are needed, we are ready to make them,” he said.

Two More Bills Passed

The Assembly also passed the Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Gowda piloted the legislation on behalf of Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah.

Gowda highlighted the difficulties faced by residents of illegal layouts across Karnataka, including poor road infrastructure, inadequate drainage and difficulties in obtaining property documents.

He said the government had taken a firm stand in 2024 against the formation of new illegal layouts, but several such layouts had been developed before the decision.

The government is currently issuing ‘B’ Khata documents to properties in these layouts, but Gowda said this was not a permanent solution.

“We are providing ‘B’ Khata to these properties but even that is not a perfect document. Why should we leave it at half? We want to give full documents and ‘A’ Khata,” he said.

He added that permanent documentation would enable property owners to obtain occupancy certificates and access bank loans, benefiting lakhs of people.

The Assembly also passed the Karnataka Municipality (Amendment) Bill, 2026.