Apartment residents in Bengaluru face ongoing confusion over property documents,especially A Khata and B Khata classifications. Karnataka government's recent initiatives aim to ease utility connection requirements,but many residents still miss out on benefits.
New rules exempt buildings on plots under 2,400 square feet from needing Occupancy Certificate (OC). But the exemption targets plot size,not individual flats,leaving many owners frustrated. S. Lata from north Bengaluru voiced her frustration,noting her building lacks both OC and utility connections. “I hoped we would be covered by exemption for homes up to 2,400 sq. ft. But civic officials said only plot size under 2,400 sq. ft. qualifies,” she said.
Confusion traces back to Supreme Court ruling in December 2024 requiring OC for utility connections. This left many properties in limbo,forcing Karnataka government to respond. Initially,exemption was for plots of 1,200 square feet,then expanded to larger plots. Chief Minister D . K . Shivakumar announced relaxation on June 3,allowing buildings with ground plus three floors or stilt parking plus four floors to skip OC if they meet criteria.
Property consultant K.R. Ramesh said only few smaller apartments benefit. “Those with six units on 40x60 plots and no OC get utility connections now,but their numbers are fewer,” he explained.
Meanwhile,many complexes on revenue land are still B Khata properties. State government started converting these to A Khata,charging 2% of guidance value. But conversion doesn't cover buildings,leaving many residents stuck. M.S. Shankar,a B Khata owner in K.R. Puram,urged government to speed up Akrama-Sakrama scheme,currently stalled in Supreme Court.
K. Arun Kumar,general secretary of Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF),criticized government for discriminating against apartment dwellers. He called for equal chances to regularize properties,like independent house owners have.
BAF is pushing for Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill,2025,to clarify apartment governance. Current management laws conflict: Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act of 1972 vs. Karnataka Societies Registration Act of 1960. Kumar emphasized urgency of new Bill,developed for over three years. “We hope it is tabled in upcoming Assembly session,” he said.
As residents navigate these regulatory hurdles,lack of clarity and government support leaves many uncertain about property rights…
