Karnataka High Court Seeks Rehabilitation Status Of Families Displaced In Kogilu Demolition Drive

The Karnataka High Court has asked the Amicus Curiae to file a detailed report about the rehabilitation status of the families affected by the 'Kogilu Demolition Drive' undertaken for constructing a Waste Management Plant in December, 2025.During the hearing before the principal bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha, State submitted that a few affected families are apparently refusing the option of rehabilitation.The court, therefore, asked the Amicus Curiae, Adv. B V Vidyulatha, to submit a final report on the subject matter by 29th April. The Amicus Curiae is required to submit a comprehensive report with special regard to the number of persons/households that were displaced and the arrangements made for their rehabilitation by the State. The State has also been asked to file their statement of objections in the connected writ petition. On December 20, 2025, authorities carried out a demolition drive, and around 300 houses were razed, and around 3,000 persons were affected. According to The Hindu, the demolition was carried out by Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to recover land belonging to the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited, meant for constructing a solid waste processing unit.Earlier, the Karnataka government, on January 7, informed the High Court that it had demarcated four areas where residents of Wasim Colony and Fakir Colony of Kogilu Layout could temporarily relocate. The Advocate General also added then that the residents relocated to these areas would be provided with adequate food and other amenities.Consequently, on February 4, the Advocate General placed on record a detailed affidavit indicating that temporary arrangements were made for accommodating 167 persons whose hutments were demolished. However, the petitioners' counsel expressed their dissatisfaction about the numbers by pointing out that there are more than 800 affected individuals. About the aspect of providing in-situ rehabilitation, the State had previously submitted that it was practically impossible due to the storage of harmful effluents in the disputed area. In light of the complex issues raised, Adv. B.V. Vidyulatha was appointed as Amicus Curiae to assist the court on February 4.Advocate Nagarathna K and Advocate Clifton D' Rozario appeared for the petitioners. Advocate General represented the respondent state.Reliefs Sought By ResidentsThe petition filed by former residents of the colonies, Zaiba Tabassum and others seek to declare that the demolition carried out without notice is illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional and in violation of Supreme Court guidelines in In Re-Directions in the matter of demolition of structures. The plea also seeks adequate rehabilitation to all affected persons of Fakir Colony and Wasim Colony, in accordance with the precedents in Sudama Singh v. Deepak Mohan Sulia. In turn, the residents also pray for a direction to the State for carrying out a survey to identify all affected persons and their eligibility for rehabilitation. Additionally, the writ petition also seeks restitution and compensation for the illegal demolition of their homes by the officials. Case Title: Zaiba Tabassum & Others v. State of Karnataka & Others and Smt. Rabiya & Ors. v. State of Karnataka & OthersCase No: WP 39814/2025 & WP 1458/2026

Karnataka High Court Seeks Rehabilitation Status Of Families Displaced In Kogilu Demolition Drive

Sebin James

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