Over 300 families who purchased sites in Banashankari 6th Stage now face uncertainty as the Karnataka High Court quashed the Bangalore Development Authority’s (BDA) land acquisition for the expansion of the layout due to procedural lapses. The ruling has sparked a conflict between site allottees, original landowners and the BDA, raising serious concerns over potential eviction and financial loss.
The Banashankari 6th Stage Layout is a residential project launched by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to address Bengaluru’s growing housing demand. As the [city’s statutory planning authority](https://dpal.karnataka.gov.in/storage/pdf-files/acts alpha and dept wise acts/12 of 1976 (E).pdf), BDA undertook the land acquisition, infrastructure development, and plot allotment. The layout, being one of the largest layouts by BDA, intended to provide planned residential plots and civic amenities. However, many BDA layouts are currently facing legal disputes, with the proposed expansion being one such case. According to data by the BDA, close to 5,468 cases are pending with various courts and majority of them are related to land acquisition and layout formation.
The layout was proposed through a notification issued in 2000 and was to be planned over approximately 2,138.04 acres of land, sourced from villages such as Thalaghattapura, Uttarahalli, Manavarthekaval and Gubbalala. While the broader Banashankari 6th Stage acquisition covered 2,138.04 acres, physical possession was secured for only about 1,203 acres. A subsequent extension proposed the acquisition of 1,532 acres, of which only 395 acres were actually taken over. Plot allotments and development began in phases from 2002, with BDA continuing auctions until 2024. The layout includes tarred roads, Cauvery water supply, electricity, street lighting, garbage collection, and a functioning residents’ welfare association. The layout had previously faced issues, as it overlapped with the Turahalli forest buffer zone, leading the Forest Department in 2009 to halt development on 2,006 sites (allotted in 2003–04) and reclaim around 849 of them due to encroachment.
The latest legal dispute specifically concerns 16 acres of land, where the BDA failed to complete crucial steps such as taking physical possession. As a result, original landowners continued agricultural activity on the land for over two decades. The conflict escalated when landowners through Writ Petition No 16865 of 2022, including H. Nagarajaiah and others, challenged the acquisition in court, citing the BDA’s inaction and its disregard for a 2010 directive from the then Chief Minister to drop the acquisition. They also alleged discriminatory treatment, as similar lands had been released from acquisition while theirs were not. Despite ongoing litigation, BDA continued to auction plots in the disputed area between 2021 and 2024.
On 27 January 2025, the Karnataka High Court ruled in favour of the original landowners. It held that the BDA had effectively abandoned the acquisition, failed to take possession, and submitted unreliable mahazar (possession) records, rendering the acquisition “bad in law.” The court formally quashed acquisition proceedings for over 16 acres spanning the 2nd, 3rd, and 4H blocks of Banashankari 6th Stage in Hemmigepura and Ganakallu villages, directly impacting around 300 site owners with 60×40 ft plots.
In response, affected residents formed the Banashankari Affected Site Owners Federation (BASOF) to seek legal and administrative protection for genuine site allottees. While there have been no large-scale protests, several formal representations have been made to the BDA and state government. Meanwhile, the BDA has filed an appeal. As a result, the legal status of these site owners remains unresolved, and they are currently barred from construction, registration, or sale of their properties.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for promised land
Demand to get back acquired land
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Private
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Residential area, Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Land record discrepancies
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
Karnataka High Court
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Karnataka High Court
Case Number
WRIT PETITION NO. 16865 OF 2022 (LA-BDA)
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Bengaluru Development Authority
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
NA
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Asmita Sutar is an Architect and Urban Planner passionate about shaping sustainable communities through research and grassroots engagement. She also serves as an Assistant Professor in Urban and Regional Planning, bringing academic insight to her multidisciplinaryapproach.
As a State Researcher from Karnataka, Asmita investigates land and planning issues through the lenses of equity, governance, and community rights, with a focus on bridging the gap between policy and lived realities in India’s urban and rural landscapes.
