Karnataka HC Takes Up Pleas Challenging Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2025

The High Court of Karnataka heard a batch of Public Interest Litigations questioning the constitutional validity of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2025. The matter has been adjourned for further hearing.

A batch of Public Interest Litigations (PILs), including W.P. No. 35709/2025 filed by Mr. Prakash Belawadi and Others, W.P. No. 17336/2025 filed by T. S. Nagabharana and Others, W.P. No. 20703/2025 filed by Citizens Action Forum and W.P. No. 23279/2025 filed by Smt. Kathyayini Chamaraj and Others, challenging the constitutional validity of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2025, were heard today before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka.

Senior Advocate C. S. Vaidyanathan, appearing for the Petitioners, extensively argued the matter, contending that although the Act outlines functions/duties of municipal bodies, it effectively transfers substantive powers to the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the State Government. He contended that this undermines the constitutional scheme of decentralized governance under Part IX-A of the Constitution of India. Reliance was placed on recent judgments of the Supreme Court of India and the High Court reinforcing the primacy of elected local bodies.

Upon conclusion of the submissions on behalf of the Petitioners, the Hon’ble Court adjourned the batch of matters to 08.04.2026 for further hearing.

Key Details

• Multiple PILs were heard, including:

W.P. No. 35709/2025 (Prakash Belawadi & Others)

• W.P. No. 17336/2025 (T. S. Nagabharana & Others)

• W.P. No. 20703/2025 (Citizens Action Forum)

• W.P. No. 23279/2025 (Kathyayini Chamaraj & Others)

• The petitions challenge the constitutional validity of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2025.

• Petitioners argued that:

The Act assigns functions to municipal bodies but shifts key powers to:

Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA)

• State Government

• This may undermine decentralized governance under Part IX-A of the Constitution.

• References were made to recent Supreme Court and High Court judgments supporting elected local bodies.

• The High Court has adjourned the matter to 08 April 2026 for further hearing.