BENGALURU: The long-anticipated scheme for issuing A Khatas to B Khata properties was officially launched on November 1, coinciding with Kannada Rajyotsava. The Deputy Chief Minister labeled it a gift to Bengaluru’s citizens. However, the rollout raises concerns for genuine property owners who have fought to protect their assets from land mafia and fraudulent developers.
Many, including Union Minister for Steel HD Kumaraswamy, have criticized the state government for imposing a 5 percent fee based on the property’s SR value to issue A Khatas for B Khata properties, in addition to a nominal Rs 500 application fee. Kumaraswamy pointed out that since the government has already collected development charges, the added fee appears unreasonable. Home buyers and property owners are questioning the justification for this fee and are urging the government to halt the hasty issuance of A Khatas until thorough document verification is conducted.
They are particularly concerned about properties involved in litigation or those that have been fraudulently encroached by land mafias. For example, a property in Vijinapura has reportedly been seized by land mafias and sold to unwitting buyers, despite being disputed in the city civil court for over 75 years. Alarmingly, revenue officials from the former BBMP (now Bengaluru East City Corporation) issued an E Khata for this property without proper document checks.
The original landowner has repeatedly implored the BBMP not to issue any form of Khata, citing a temporary court injunction against the land.
“The state government must scrutinize all documents before granting A Khatas for B Khata properties. Some properties, including mine, are entangled in litigation, and cases are still pending in court,” stated Yatish M, a Jayanagar resident. He called for the government to make all pending case data available on the official GBA website. “This will prevent additional litigation and offer relief to original landowners and legitimate buyers,” he added.
Sudhakar Lakshmanaraja, Founder of Digital South Trust, characterized the government’s decision as forward-thinking, promising improved infrastructure and amenities for Bengaluru’s residents. However, he warned of the risks involved if B Khata properties are under litigation, emphasizing that revenue officers must have a transparent verification process before granting regularization. He proposed the implementation of a blockchain-based system to provide real-time access to property status and ongoing cases, thereby protecting ownership rights and preventing disputes. “Karnataka must adopt interoperable blockchain records for legal clarity,” he stated.
Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar, Convenor of Karnataka Home Buyers’ Forum, criticized the government for collecting 5% of the guidance value from existing property owners rather than the original promoters, who neglected to adhere to regulations during layout formation or building construction.
Padmanabhachar pointed out that the government has already gathered up to 7 percent in stamp duty during property registration, suggesting that an extra 5 percent fee is unwarranted. “Home buyers or site owners shouldn’t be held accountable for the mistakes made by the government and developers. We advise them to file complaints before the Lokayukta or High Court for negligence,” he said.
