The Karnataka High Court dismissed a PIL challenging land acquisition for the Bidadi township, greenlighting the major infrastructure project.
BENGALURU
The Karnataka High Court has officially dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that challenged the ongoing land acquisition process for the proposed Greater Bangalore Integrated Township near Bidadi.
A judicial bench led by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K.S. Hemalekha rejected the petition submitted by social activist Rajesh Kambalapur. The High Court confirmed that the state government’s land acquisition process is legally sound and can proceed as planned.
The petitioner had requested a complete stay on the project and the cancellation of the June 13, 2026 land acquisition notification for 516 acres. With this court ruling, the major legal roadblock facing the ambitious township project has now been removed.
Legal points raised:
- Legal Framework: The court clarified that land acquisition is being conducted under the State Urban Development Act. Using the Central Act of 2013 solely to determine compensation amounts does not require the government to follow every single process of the central law.
- Petitioner’s Concerns: The activist argued that mandatory steps—such as a social impact assessment and rehabilitation plans—were skipped. He also expressed concerns regarding environmental damage, water scarcity, and spending over ₹12,500 crore near Bengaluru instead of supporting backward regions.
- Scope of Order: The bench dismissed the plea for lacking legal grounds. However, judges noted that this order does not prevent future legal reviews of other specific land issues.
