Karnataka Assembly Passes Apartment Management and Municipal Bills Amid Protests

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly in Bengaluru on Friday passed the Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026, along with two other key civic legislations, despite ongoing protests by opposition parties.

The Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill aims to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework to oversee the governance and administration of apartment complexes across the state. The legislation specifically addresses the operation, maintenance, and shared use of common areas and facilities within residential developments.

Minister for Bengaluru Development and Parliamentary Affairs Krishna Byre Gowda explained the necessity of the law during the proceedings, stating that it would provide a clear administrative mechanism to govern apartment complexes in cities and towns. The proposed legislation was also tabled in the Legislative Council.

In addition to the apartment legislation, the Assembly cleared the Karnataka Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2026. This measure empowers municipal commissioners and chief officers to intervene and take control of private streets and drainage networks that have fallen into disrepair and create risks to public health and safety. The bill also contains provisions to prevent previous landowners from seeking compensation or development rights certificates for land utilized for such private roads.

A corresponding measure, the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was also passed to grant identical authority to municipal corporations across urban centres. Both amendments are designed to facilitate better upkeep of civic infrastructure and ensure that disputes over private ownership do not hinder essential public works.

The bills were cleared amid disruptions from the Opposition BJP and JD(S), who staged demonstrations demanding the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra over the alleged misappropriation of funds in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Following the passage of the three legislative measures, Speaker G.S. Patil adjourned the Assembly session until Monday.