In a significant development poised to assist numerous property owners throughout Bengaluru, the Karnataka Cabinet has sanctioned the regularization of B-Khata properties issued by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) until September 30, 2024.
These properties will now qualify for A-Khata recognition, providing much-needed legal clarity and facilitating access to civic amenities such as electricity, water, and sewage connections. The announcement was made on Thursday by Law Minister H.K. Patil following the cabinet meeting.
This initiative has been undertaken to instill discipline within the city’s property development framework and to regulate illegal or unapproved constructions, he remarked. B-Khatas have historically been a source of legal uncertainty. Initially issued since 2009 for properties that did not comply with BBMP’s planning or zoning regulations, B-Khatas effectively barred these properties from obtaining occupancy certificates (OC), completion certificates (CC), and utility connections.
With the issuance of B-Khatas ceasing from September 30, 2024, the government encountered increasing pressure to clarify the status of properties that had been issued such documents during the intervening years. The cabinet meeting on Thursday reached a consensus that B-Khatas issued in accordance with legitimate government circulars would now be regarded equally with A-Khatas.
In cases where the supporting documentation is ambiguous or missing, the properties will still qualify for legal regularization under newly revised guidelines that will be announced soon. “This decision represents a significant relief for thousands of homeowners who have endured bureaucratic obstacles for many years. It will also enhance BBMP’s procedures concerning OC, CC, and the approval of building plans,” Patil further stated.
The recent developments occur in the context of wider administrative reforms suggested under the Greater Bengaluru Administration Bill, 2024. A report from a Joint Review Committee, led by MLA Rizwan Arshad, has proposed the establishment of additional municipal corporations to more effectively manage the city’s urban expansion. In response to this recommendation, the cabinet has sanctioned the creation of five new municipal corporations within the Greater Bengaluru region.
According to sources, the choice to increase the number of corporations was influenced by long-term governance requirements and demographic trends. Further discussions with elected officials will shape the operational framework and boundaries of these new municipal entities. Collectively, these initiatives signify a major reorganization of Bengaluru’s urban management system.
By addressing B-Khata disputes and decentralizing municipal governance, the Karnataka government seeks to enhance accountability, improve service delivery, and provide legal clarity regarding property ownership in one of India’s rapidly expanding real estate markets. In conjunction with this decision, the cabinet also tackled another long-standing issue—land acquisition discrepancies by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). The cabinet resolved to rescind 29 notifications under Section 48(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1984, thereby regularizing lands that had previously been ensnared in legal complications.
