- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:20508 WP No. 13654 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO.13654 OF 2020 (LB-BMP) BETWEEN: M/S AXIS CONCEPTS CAPSTONE PRIVATE LIMITED A REGISTERED COMPANY HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT NO 38, MAINI SADAN 2ND FLOOR, 7TH CROSS, LAVELLE ROAD, BANGALORE - 560001 REP BY ITS CEO AND AUTHORISED SIGNATORY SK PRASANNA S/O LATE S K SRINIVASA MURTHY AGE 51 YEAR S …PETITIONER (BY SRI. B PRAMOD, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT VIKASA SOUDHA, DR B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560001 REP BY ITS SECRETARY 2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT VIKASA SOUDHA DR B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BANGALORE - 560001 REP BY ITS UNDER SECRETARY 3. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPT OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND LEGISLATION VIKASA SOUDHA DR B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560001 REP BY ITS SECRETARY Digitally signed by NAGARAJA B M Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:20508 WP No. 13654 of 2020 4. BRUHAT BENGALURU MAHANAGARA PALIKE N R SQUARE BANGALORE - 560002 REP BY ITS COMMISSIONER 5. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TOWN PLANNING EAST, BRUHAT BENGALURU MAHANAGARA PALIKE, 22ND FLOOR, UTILITY BUILDING, MAYOHALL, M G ROAD, BENGALURU - 560001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SPOORTHY. V, HCGP FOR R1 TO R3; SMT. SINCHANA M.R.,ADVOCATE FOR R4 AND R5) 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 PLANING ACT 1961 BROUGHT INTO EFFECT BY KARNATAKA ACT NO.23 OF 2004 (KARNATAKA TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (AMENDMENT) ACT 1998 AS CONTAINED IN ANNXURE-G1 IN SO FAR SECTION 18-A(i) AND (iv) OF THE KARNATAKA ACT NO.23 OF 2004 IS CONCERNED AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER The petitioner is seeking for the following reliefs. "i) 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 Annxure-G1 in so far - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:20508 WP No. 13654 of 2020 Section 18-A(i) And (iv) Of The Karnataka Act No.23 of 2004 is concerned. ii) Quash 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) Quash the Circular dated 4.09.2015, 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) Quash 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) Quash 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) Quash the demand notice dated 19.10.2020 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, excess security deposit, revised license fee, revised scrutiny fee, cess for water supply scheme, surcharge for formation outer ring road, cess for improvement of slum - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:20508 WP No. 13654 of 2020 surcharge for Mass Rapid Transport System, Labour Cess and etc., as Illegal, without jurisdiction and arbitrary. vii) Direct the respondent Nos.4 and 5 - BBMP to issue the modified 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, Excess Security Deposit, 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. 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 referred to as “Sunderam Shetty”), have comprehensively adjudicated the issue involved and settled the controversy. 3. In Sunderam Shetty and connected cases, the Co-ordinate Bench declared the levies of Ground Rent, - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:20508 WP No. 13654 of 2020 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. 4. 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. 5. The issues raised in the present writ petition are squarely covered by the above binding decisions, wherein the relevant bye-laws and government circulars have been set aside. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:20508 WP No. 13654 of 2020 6. 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. 7. Accordingly, this Court proceeds to pass the following: ORDER (i) The writ petition is allowed. (ii) The impugned demand notice dated 19.10.2020 issued by respondent No.5 as per Annexure-D is hereby set-aside. (iii) Respondent No.4 - BBMP is hereby directed to issue fresh/modified plan as the case may be. (iv) Respondent No.4 - BBMP is directed to forthwith process the petitioner’s application seeking building license and sanction of the building plan strictly in accordance with law. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:20508 WP No. 13654 of 2020 (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 NBM List No.: 2 Sl No.: 6