PIL filed in High Court challenging demolition of 300 houses in Kogilu Layout
Bengaluru: Questioning the Karnataka government’s action of demolishing around 300 houses in the Wasim and Fakir colonies of Kogilu Layout, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Karnataka High Court.
The petition has been submitted by Kogilu residents Jaiba Tabassum, Rehana and Arif Begum. The state government, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Bengaluru Police Commissioner and the Bengaluru North Taluk Tahsildar have been named as respondents.
The matter is yet to be listed for hearing before the Chief Justice-led bench. According to the petitioners, the houses in Wasim and Fakir colonies were demolished without issuing any prior notice or providing an opportunity for the residents to present their objections.
The plea states that many of the affected residents belong to the Muslim community and several of them possess documents related to their houses. The petition points out that as per law, municipal authorities must issue a show-cause notice and provide at least 15 days’ time before clearing alleged encroachments.
It also refers to Supreme Court guidelines, which clearly state that demolitions should not be carried out using bulldozers without following due process, including issuing written notices and granting a reasonable opportunity of hearing.
However, the petition alleges that government officials acted in violation of these Supreme Court directions and went ahead with the demolition drive.
The plea highlights that the demolition has caused severe hardship to hundreds of students studying in nearby government schools. Their uniforms, textbooks and examination hall tickets were destroyed during the operation, affecting their education and academic future.
The petitioners have demanded that all displaced families from Wasim and Fakir colonies be rehabilitated or provided alternative housing within a five-kilometre radius of the demolished area. They have also sought a proper survey to identify eligible beneficiaries and compensation for houses that were demolished after years of effort and investment.
The PIL seeks directions to provide medical treatment to those injured during the eviction drive. It further urges the court to initiate contempt proceedings and disciplinary action against officials who violated Supreme Court guidelines, and to hold them personally accountable for the losses and damages caused.
Special relief has been sought for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, women and the elderly. The petition demands immediate provision of clean drinking water, three nutritious meals a day, temporary separate toilets for men and women, sanitary essentials such as napkins, and adequate security for women and children.
The petition also warns of the risk of infectious diseases among the homeless population and calls for the setting up of temporary medical camps to ensure immediate treatment.
Additionally, it seeks directions to issue duplicate hall tickets to students who lost their originals and to provide essential educational materials, including books, notebooks, study aids and uniforms, to affected students.
The case is expected to add a legal dimension to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Kogilu Layout demolition and rehabilitation process.
