After High Court Nudge, Bengaluru Civic Body To Crack Down On Non-Compliant PGs; Occupants To Get 3 Weeks To Relocate

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) on Monday informed the Karnataka High Court that notices would be issued to all non-compliant paying guest (PG) accommodations across Bengaluru in one go, or within two days, immediately after approval, likely next week.

The development came before a single-judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj, which is monitoring compliance with its directions concerning the regulation, inspection and enforcement of safety norms at PG accommodations across Bengaluru.

GBA's counsel B.S. Karthikeyan submitted that the authority's legal cell was preparing notices to be issued to all errant PG accommodations which had failed to comply with earlier notices.

The notices would inform the PG operators that the premises would have to be vacated within a specified time, following which necessary action, including sealing of the premises, would be taken.

The Court however stressed that adequate time must be given to existing occupants to relocate.

When the GBA initially proposed giving occupants 10 days to vacate, the Court indicated that they should instead be given 15 to 21 days.

“Where will those people go? Why do you want to put people's life at risk? Give them some more time,” the Court orally observed.

The GBA then agreed to provide the occupants additional time and submitted that necessary action would be taken after expiry of the period fixed for vacating the premises.

The authority further informed the Court that after the stipulated period, BESCOM (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited), BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board) and other service-providing authorities would stop services to the concerned buildings where the non-compliant PG accommodations are being operated.

The GBA also told the Court that caveats would be filed before the High Court and the jurisdictional civil courts to ensure that no ex parte orders are obtained by errant PG operators against the proposed enforcement action.

According to the authority, PG operators were likely to approach civil courts apprehending definitive action against their establishments.

The Chief Commissioner of the GBA is also scheduled to hold meetings with the Commissioners of the individual corporations, as well as representatives and Managing Directors of BESCOM, BWSSB and the police department, the Court was informed.

The Court was further told that some PG accommodations continued to operate despite earlier notices. There was also an instance where BBMP had issued a notice to a PG, but the establishment allegedly continued to function without rectifying the violations, the authorities submitted.

Notice was directed to be issued to the petitioners as their counsel was not present before the Court.

While posting the matter to October 27, the Court made it clear that occupants would not have to be shifted if the concerned PG accommodations complied with the requirements specified in the notices.

The development follows the Karnataka High Court's earlier comprehensive directions for regulating PG accommodations in Bengaluru, after the Court was informed of large-scale operation of establishments allegedly without requisite statutory compliances.

The Court was earlier informed that, out of approximately 5,000 PG accommodations in Bengaluru East alone, nearly 2,500 were allegedly operating without proper licences, sanctioned plans, fire safety clearances or compliance with other statutory safeguards.

The GBA had also informed the Court that demolition would be undertaken where construction had been carried out in violation of zonal regulations and/or building bye-laws.

The authority had earlier issued notices to 68 PG accommodations in Bengaluru North for alleged violations.

The Court subsequently observed that the existing guidelines were not comprehensive and issued a detailed set of 80 directions for regulating PG accommodations.

Among other things, the Court directed the authorities to identify all premises being operated as PG accommodations, whether licensed or unlicensed, and assess their compliance with statutory norms.

The violations were directed to be classified into three categories: Category I, comprising immediate threats to life such as blocked fire exits and gross overcrowding; Category II, involving serious regulatory violations; and Category III, covering rectifiable deficiencies.

Depending on the nature and extent of violations and compliance with statutory procedures, the authorities could undertake closure, sealing or demolition of the concerned structures.

The present proceedings trace back to an earlier petition concerning notices issued by the BBMP to PG accommodation operators over alleged trade licence violations.

In March, the High Court had directed BBMP to inspect PG accommodations operated by the Paying Guest Accommodation Welfare Association in Bengaluru, including to verify whether the constructions were in accordance with sanctioned plans.

Case Title: M/s Princess Ladies PG v. The Chief Commissioner & Ors and connected batch

Case No: WP 14750/2025 & connected matters