Karnataka High Court Slams BBMP for 14-Year TDR Delay, Orders Action in Three Months

The Karnataka High Court has strongly criticised the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for failing to issue Transferable Development Rights (TDR) to a landowner for 14 years, despite having used the private land for constructing a road in 2012. Justice M. Nagaprasanna, while hearing a petition, termed the BBMP's subsequent claim of fraud as 'preposterous' and directed the civic body to issue the TDR within three months.

The petition was filed by Lakshmi, a 57-year-old widow, and her children, who are legal heirs of the late Puttaswamy. In January 2012, the BBMP had issued a notification to acquire certain lands in Hoskerehalli for road formation, offering landowners the option of TDR instead of monetary compensation. Puttaswamy executed a relinquishment deed in April 2012, surrendering his land to the BBMP. However, the BBMP never issued the promised TDR.

After Puttaswamy's death, his family made repeated representations to the BBMP, but the civic body did not respond. Lakshmi's petition noted that the delay caused severe financial stress, and she claimed that Puttaswamy died of a heart attack due to the stress of unpaid debts linked to the non-issuance of the TDR.

In its defence before the court in 2025, the BBMP admitted to the existence of the relinquishment deed but claimed it was executed 'fraudulently' by a former Additional Commissioner. The BBMP also argued that the land had not actually been used for the road, alleging the execution was an error.

The court rejected these claims, pointing out that the BBMP produced no evidence to show that the approval for the deed was obtained erroneously. The court noted that the BBMP admitted its original records were missing, but an examination of note sheets revealed a clear process of approval. 'Having executed the relinquishment deed, the BBMP cannot strip off the rights of the citizen on a specious plea that it was an error. The petitioners today have neither the lands nor the TDR or any amount as compensation. Even the relinquishment deeds are intact even today,' the court observed.

Justice Nagaprasanna directed the BBMP to issue the TDR to the petitioners within three months, emphasising the need for accountability in handling citizens' property rights. The case highlights systemic delays in urban governance and the hardships faced by ordinary citizens when municipal bodies fail to honour commitments.