Bengaluru Town Hall, a citizens collective, to challenge Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, in Supreme Court
A civic collective organised under the banner of Bengaluru Town Hall has resolved to legally challenge the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act (GBGA) 2024, calling the legislation 'undemocratic and unconstitutional'. The group, comprising planners, lawyers, and citizen volunteers, has begun formulating a legal strategy to contest the Act in the Supreme Court, marking the first formal opposition to legislation since its passage in April.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot gave his assent to the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, and the State government issued a gazette notification. The legislation will allow for establishment of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) for coordinating and supervising the development of the greater Bengaluru area. The Governor in March returned the Bill passed in both the Houses during the Budget session seeking clarification. The government sent back the Bill providing clarifications.
The decision to legally challenge the Act by the BTH is one of four coordinated initiatives launched by the group in response to what it sees as a 'top-down, opaque approach' to urban governance reform in Bengaluru.
Prakash Belawadi, actor and activist who is spearheading the BTH, told The Hindu: 'We have decided to challenge the Act legally. As the subject pertains to constitutional violation, we are planning to approach the Supreme Court. We have also held meetings with the advocates on the same.
Alongside the legal action, the group has constituted a Masterplan Focus Group consisting of planning experts who are leading a citizen-driven urban master planning exercise — an alternative to government-led processes that they say often lack public participation. This group will prepare a masterplan in adherence with the rules and relevant laws.
Another subgroup is drafting a Citizens' Bill for Urban Governance, a grassroots legislative effort that compares existing Bills, model laws, and governance Acts to create a comprehensive and inclusive city governance draft, which the group says it intends to 'gift' to the government.
In addition to this to support these efforts, a communications team is building a digital outreach strategy to inform, engage, and mobilize the public around these initiatives.
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