- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21728 WP No. 4530 of 2021 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF JUNE, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO.4530 OF 2021 (LB-BMP) BETWEEN: 1. SMT. P. PRASHANTHA W/O SRI. M.C. UMANATH AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, R/AT NO.1053, 5TH A MAIN, 3RD CROSS, SANEGURUVANAHALLI, BASAVESWARANAGAR, BANGALORE-560 079. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. B. PRAMOD, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT VIKASA SOUDHA, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE-560 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT VIKASA SOUDHA, DR. B.R. AMBEDKA VEEDHI BANGALORE-560 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS UNDER SECRETARY. Digitally signed by H K HEMA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21728 WP No. 4530 of 2021 3. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND LEGISLATION VIKASA SOUDHA, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BANGALORE-560 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 4. BRUHAT BENGALURU MAHANAGARA PALIKE N.R. SQUARE, BANGALORE-560002 REPRESENTED BY ITS COMMISSIONER. 5. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TOWN PLANNING-(SOUTH) BRUHATH BANGALORE MAHANAGARA PALIKE, BBMP COMPLEX, 9TH CROSS, 9TH MAIN ROAD, JAYANAGAR 2ND BLOCK, BANGALORE-560 011. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SPOORTHY V., HCGP FOR R.1 & R.2; SRI V.G. BHANUPRAKASH, ADVOCATE FOR R.4 & R.5.) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH SECTION 18-A OF THE KARNATAKA TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT, 1961 BROUGHT INTO EFFECT BY KARNATAKA ACT NO.23 OF 2004 (KARNATAKA TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1998) AS CONTAINED IN ANNEXURE-G1 INSOFAR AS SECTION 18-A(i) AND (iv) OF THE KARNATAKA ACT NO.23 OF 2004 IS CONCERNED, ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21728 WP No. 4530 of 2021 CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER The captioned petition is filed seeking for the following reliefs: "WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to: i) grant an order, direction or writ in the nature of Certiorari quashing Section 18-A of the Karnataka Town & Country Planning Act, 1961 brought into effect by Karnataka Act No. 23 of 2004 (Karnataka Town & Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 1998) as contained in ANNEXURE-G1 insofar as Section 18-A(i) and (iv) of the Karnataka Act No. 23 of 2004 is concerned; ii) Grant an order, direction or writ in the nature of Certiorari quashing the Notification issued by the 1st Respondent bearing No.UDD 3 TTP 2015 dated 25/02/2020 as contained in ANNEXURE-G insofar as the inserted Rule 37- A and 37-C is concerned: iii) issue a writ or order by way of certiorari quashing the circular dated 04/09/2015, - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21728 WP No. 4530 of 2021 bearing No.Heninayo/JD(N)/DM3/PR/320/ 2015-16 issued by the Respondent No 4 (Annexure-E) in so far the Petitioner is concerned. iv) issue a writ or order by way of certiorari quashing the circular dated 14/08/2020, bearing No.He.Ni.Ka.Pa.Ko/P.R/320/2020-21 issued by the Respondent No.4 (Annexure-H) in so far the Petitioner is concerned. v) issue a writ or order by way of certiorari quashing the Government order bearing No.LD/300/LET/2006 dated 18/01/2007 and the corrigendum order bearing No.LD/300/LET/2006, dated 28/02/2007 issued by the Respondent No.2 mandating upfront collection of labour welfare cess (Annexure-F) in so far the Petitioner is concerned. vi) issue a writ or order by way of certiorari quashing the demand notice dated 17/02/2021, bearing No. BBMP/Ad.Com/SUT /1188/2020-21, issued by the Respondent No.5 (Annexure-D) for demanding in so far it is concerned to Ground rent, GST on Ground rent, Betterment charges for building, Betterment charges for site, revised License fee, revised scrutiny fee, Cess for water supply - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21728 WP No. 4530 of 2021 scheme, Surcharge for formation outer ring road, Cess for improvement of slum, Surcharge for Mass Rapid Transport System, Labour cess and etc., as illegal, without Jurisdiction and arbitrary. vii) issue a writ or order or direction by way of mandamus directing the Respondent No.4 and 5 BBMP to issue the sanction plan with respect to the Schedule Property without insisting the Ground rent, GST on Ground rent, Betterment charges for building, Betterment charges for site, revised License fee, revised scrutiny fee, Cess for water supply scheme, Surcharge for formation outer ring road, Cess for improvement of slum, Surcharge for Mass Rapid Transport System, Labour cess and etc., and viii) pass any such other order(s) as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case in the interest of justice and equity." 2. The Co-ordinate Benches of this Court, in W.P.No.23086/2022 and connected matters(herein referred to as “M/s Sapthagiri Shelters”) as well as W.P.No.36017/2018 and connected matters(herein - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21728 WP No. 4530 of 2021 referred to as “Sunderam Shetty”), have comprehensively adjudicated the issue involved and settled the controversy. In Sunderam Shetty and connected cases, the Co-ordinate Bench declared the levies of Ground Rent, License Fee, Building License Fee, and Scrutiny Fee under the relevant bye-laws as ultra vires the Act and quashed the Government Circulars dated 04.09.2015, 27.01.2017, and 30.03.2017 and similarly, in M/s Sapthagiri Shelters and connected matters, the Co-ordinate Bench struck down the Karnataka Act No.01 of 2022 and Karnataka Act No.37 of 2024, holding that linking fees under Rule 37-A of the Karnataka Planning Authority Rules, 1965 to market/guidance value under Section 45-B of the Karnataka Stamp Act, 1957 is illegal. It further quashed all related Circulars and declared Clause 3.8 of the BBMP Building Bye-laws, 2003, pertaining to Ground Rent, as invalid. 3. The issues raised in the present writ petition are squarely covered by the above binding decisions, wherein - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21728 WP No. 4530 of 2021 the relevant bye-laws and government circulars have been set aside. 4. In light of the authoritative pronouncements, the present petition does not warrant separate adjudication and is liable to be allowed in terms of the operative directions issued in the aforesaid writ petitions. 5. Accordingly, this Court proceeds to pass the following: ORDER (i) The writ petition is allowed. (ii) The impugned demand notice dated 17.02.2021 issued by respondent No.5 as per Annexure-D is hereby set-aside. (iii) Respondent - BBMP is hereby directed to issue fresh/modified plan as the case may be. (iv) Respondent - BBMP is directed to forthwith process the petitioner’s application - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:21728 WP No. 4530 of 2021 seeking building license and sanction of the building plan, strictly in accordance with law. (v) It is made clear that the issuance of the building license and approval of the plan shall not be withheld merely on the ground that the BBMP is contemplating to file an appeal against the reported judgment. (vi) If the building license and sanction plan are issued, the same shall be subject to the outcome of any appeal that may be filed by the BBMP against the said judgment. Pending applications, if any, are also disposed off. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE VMB List No.: 2 Sl No.: 22