Latest news with #BengaluruTownHall
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
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.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Civic agency polls may be delayed by a year to implement Greater Bengaluru Governance Act
Bengaluru: Elections to Bengaluru's civic agency could be delayed by as much as a year as the govt must carry out a series of procedural steps to implement the Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBA) Act before polls can be held. The govt notified the new law, which replaces the BBMP Act , after governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot gave his assent last week. For the GBG Act to be implemented, a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) must be established, which requires identifying a greater Bengaluru area beyond the current 786sq km. The govt also plans to carve out new city corporations, potentially creating up to seven. This process includes determining new wards and reservation patterns. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Urban development department (UDD) officials say these procedural steps will take at least a year to complete but transport minister Ramalinga Reddy, who represents a seat in Bengaluru city, has said the govt aims to conduct polls by Dec. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like News For Jack Nicholson, 87, He Has Been Confirmed To Be... Reportingly Undo "We will see what best can be done to expeditiously complete procedural steps to hold elections under the GBG Act. We will call a meeting of elected representatives from all parties, representing Bengaluru, and take their suggestions," said Reddy, a key minister involved in the process. The delay has sparked frustration among opposition parties, who accuse the govt of deliberately stalling polls. Opposition leader R Ashoka said the enactment of GBG Act is part of a broader strategy to delay elections even further. His party colleague CN Ashwath Narayan said: "BBMP polls have been delayed by nearly five years now. While polls were initially delayed because of the pandemic, it was the present govt's responsibility to ensure polls were held immediately after taking the helm in May 2023. Instead, it is adopting delaying tactics." Civil society organisations have also raised concerns, with some planning to move court. Prakash Belawadi, convener, Bengaluru Town Hall, an umbrella organisation of civil society groups, argued that civic polls could be conducted under provisions of BBMP Act as UDD has not yet declared the appointed day for the GBG Act. "The BBMP Act would be repealed only after UDD notifies GBG Act with the declaration of the appointed day," Belawadi said. "We will seek a court direction to the govt and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to hold elections under the existing law." Bengaluru Town Hall will meet on Thursday to discuss the way forward. The Karnataka State Election Commission (SEC) meanwhile plans to hold elections to other city corporations — Mysuru, Tumakuru, Shivamogga, Mangaluru, and Davanagere — which have also experienced significant delays. SEC plans to move the high court Friday to seek directions to hold these elections. "The govt has not complied with its obligation to facilitate polls for these city corporations," said GS Sangreshi, CEC. "It has failed to provide us with the report of delimitation of wards and reservation pattern for them, despite our repeated reminders. We will file a writ petition in the HC."
Hans India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Citizens' Groups Raise Alarm Over Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, Mull Legal Challenge
Bengaluru: The passage of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, into law has triggered a wave of concern and resistance among citizen groups and civil society organisations in the city. The Bengaluru Town Hall movement, a prominent pressure group advocating for transparent and decentralised governance, has voiced strong objections, citing violations of constitutional principles and procedural lapses. In a statement issued on Thursday, the group expressed dismay over the Governor's assent to the bill, stating that the law has been enacted 'despite strong objections from citizens and civil groups,' and that its provisions undermine the very spirit of democratic decentralisation enshrined in the Constitution. 'The objections were very serious, especially about violations of the Constitution and lack of due process, and lack of public consultation,' the statement read. 'This law goes against the spirit and letter of the 74th Amendment/Nagarpalika Act 1992, which is the very essence of our democracy.' The 74th Constitutional Amendment, passed in 1992, is widely regarded as a cornerstone of urban democratic governance in India. It mandates the creation of elected municipal bodies and devolution of powers, functions, and finances to urban local governments. Critics of the new Bengaluru legislation argue that it centralises authority, reduces the role of elected representatives, and gives greater control to the state government and bureaucracy. The Bengaluru Town Hall movement, comprising civic activists, urban planners, legal professionals, and residents' welfare associations, has announced that it is actively studying legal options to challenge the newly enacted law. A team is being constituted to explore the viability of a legal recourse. 'We are constituting a team to pursue this. We shall announce our plans shortly,' said Sandeep Anirudhan and Prakash Belawadi in a press release issued today by the BTH. The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, was introduced by the state government with the stated aim of streamlining administration and improving service delivery in the rapidly growing metropolitan area. However, activists contend that the process of drafting and passing the bill lacked adequate public consultation and transparency. 'Any change of this scale to the governance structure of a city like Bengaluru must be subject to wide-ranging consultations, involving citizens, local representatives, and experts,' said a senior member of the Town Hall movement, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'Instead, the bill was rushed through without hearing the voices of the people who live and work in this city.' Legal scholars and constitutional experts have also weighed in, with some raising red flags about the bill's compatibility with the framework laid down by the 74th Amendment. If a legal challenge is mounted, the outcome could have far-reaching implications not just for Bengaluru but for urban governance models across India. Meanwhile, civic activists are calling for increased public awareness and mobilisation to resist what they describe as 'an erosion of local self-governance.' Discussions are also underway for a citywide campaign to educate citizens about the impact of the new law on urban democracy. As Bengaluru continues to grapple with complex urban challenges — from mobility and housing to waste management and water supply — the controversy over the governance bill has sharpened the debate around who truly governs the city, and how.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Legal storm brews over Greater Bengaluru Act; civil society, BJP likely to move court
Bengaluru: The state govt's move to divide Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into several smaller corporations under the new Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Act, 2024, has sparked a legal and political storm, with opposition parties and civil society groups preparing to challenge the law in court. The legislation, passed recently in both Houses, received governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot's assent Wednesday and was subsequently notified in the official gazette. However, the Act now faces stiff resistance from several quarters, including principal opposition BJP and a coalition of civil society organisations under the banner Bengaluru Town Hall. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "We will fight legally against the GBG Act," said opposition leader R Ashoka of BJP. "The governor has done his best under the circumstances. People are bound to criticise. If he gives his assent, they say he is pro-Congress and if he returns the bill, they brand Raj Bhavan as a BJP office." BJP had earlier petitioned the governor to withhold assent, joining civil society members who contend that the bill violates the spirit of the 74th Constitutional Amendment by undermining local self-governance. Despite the objections, the govt re-sent the bill to Raj Bhavan last week. The governor had initially returned the bill but is understood to have given assent considering a recent Supreme Court order mandating that governors must decide on pending bills within three months. "We clearly explained our concerns about the bill in our memorandum to the governor," said Prakash Belavadi, convener, Bengaluru Town Hall. "We told him it would be detrimental to the development of the city. Now that the governor has given assent and the legislation has been enacted, we will study circumstances leading to it. We will hold a meeting with lawyers and domain experts on May 1. Taking legal recourse is one option we are exploring." Citizen groups such as Citizen Action Forum are also gearing up to approach the high court. Several individuals are also expected to file separate petitions challenging the Act. Meanwhile, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar has indicated an intent to seek political consensus. "He will soon convene an all-party meeting to avert legal battles," sources said.
