Karnataka to consult stakeholders before apartment law: DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday assured apartment owners that the government would enact a comprehensive law to safeguard their ownership rights, saying the
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday assured apartment owners that the government would enact a comprehensive law to safeguard their ownership rights, saying the proposed Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026 would be finalised only after extensive consultations with all stakeholders. Addressing representatives of apartment associations in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said the government was committed to protecting the interests of homebuyers and would also address long-pending issues related to developers, property documents and apartment governance. Read Full Story "We are very firm. When property is being given to you, you should have the right. You are the owners," the chief minister said, stressing that apartment owners must receive full legal protection over their properties. He said the government had invited suggestions from apartment associations, developers, legal experts and political parties and would incorporate constructive feedback before placing the Bill before the Cabinet and subsequently the Legislature.
"We have time before the Assembly session. The Bill will first go to the Cabinet and then be introduced in the Legislature. I do not want to bulldoze a Bill through the Assembly. I want to discuss it with all stakeholders and incorporate good suggestions wherever possible," Shivakumar said. Noting that many people invest their life's savings in purchasing a home, he said, "Your hard-earned property deserves full legal protection. There should be no misuse." The chief minister also said developers who had failed to hand over original property documents to buyers would be called for discussions, warning against the practice of withholding records after mortgaging properties with banks. Shivakumar said the proposed 'Bhumi Guarantee', which he described as the government's sixth guarantee, would ensure property owners receive Khata certificates without having to pay bribes. He added that nearly 40 lakh properties had already been digitised and 26 lakh Khata certificates issued.
He also urged apartment associations to maintain sewage treatment plants properly and work with the government to address civic issues. Highlighting Bengaluru's rapid growth, he said the city's population had nearly doubled to around 1.4 crore since his earlier tenure as Urban Development Minister, while vehicle numbers had surged to nearly 1.35 crore, placing enormous pressure on existing infrastructure. According to Shivakumar, infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs 1.5 lakh crore are currently underway across departments in Bengaluru, with around Rs 4,000 crore sanctioned for road upgrades and pothole repairs. He reiterated the government's vision of promoting planned high-rise development over unplanned layouts, adding that Bengaluru continues to remain more affordable than cities such as Mumbai. Earlier, Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the consultation had been organised primarily to gather public feedback on the proposed legislation. He said the draft Bill's key provisions would be uploaded online, allowing stakeholders to submit suggestions through a dedicated email address before it is finalised.
The BriefWire