Karnataka Assembly Passes Apartment Bill and Civic Measures Amid Protests
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026, and two other bills, even as opposition parties BJP and JD(S) continued to demand the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra over alleged misappropriation of funds in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
The Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill seeks to create a regulatory framework for the governance and management of apartment complexes, including the use and upkeep of common areas and facilities. Minister for Bengaluru Development and Parliamentary Affairs Krishna Byre Gowda said the legislation would provide a mechanism to govern apartment complexes in towns and cities. The Bill had been tabled in the Legislative Council earlier.
The Assembly also passed the Karnataka Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which empowers municipal commissioners and chief officers to proactively take over private streets and drains that are in poor condition and pose a threat to public health and safety. The legislation also aims to prevent former landowners from claiming compensation or development rights certificates for land used for such streets.
A similar provision was incorporated for municipal corporations through the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Both bills are aimed at ensuring better maintenance of civic infrastructure and preventing private ownership issues from obstructing essential public services.
As the opposition continued to raise slogans against the Congress government and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for inducting Mr. Nagendra into the State Cabinet, Speaker G.S. Patil ensured the passage of the three bills and adjourned the session until Monday, August 24.
The Opposition has been demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged financial irregularities in the Valmiki corporation, with the BJP and JD(S) staging protests during the session. The government has not yet responded officially to the allegations.
