Latest news with #E-Khata
Hindustan Times
07-08-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
BBMP e-khata glitch triggers unfair tax notices to Bengaluru homeowners over parking space: Report
A technical glitch in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) e-Khata system has upset many property owners, as hundreds received show-cause notices unexpectedly. E-Khata is an online property certificate that records ownership details and has been mandatory since July 1, 2025. Residents frustrated by BBMP's e-Khata system errors, demand intervention from Karnataka DCM over wrongful tax assessments in Bengaluru.(Pixabay) What happened? Homeowners in Bengaluru were notified for not including their car parking area when reporting the carpet size of their properties. Rajat Rao, a resident of Richmond Town, said BBMP demanded tax on his parking space but determined its size without verifying any documents or visiting the property, a report published by the Mint said. BBMP officials explained that the problem arose due to a recent software check in their system called Kauvery, which flagged any difference in property size data between e-Khata and another property database, EPID. Homeowners' response Residents, especially from the Shantinagar area where e-Khata was first introduced, are frustrated and want Karnataka DCM DK Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru development portfolio, to intervene. READ | 'I should've stretched my budget', Bengaluru homebuyer regrets choosing a Grade B project with subpar construction They criticized the officials for causing unnecessary trouble and questioned why they are forced to prove facts when the system itself is flawed. A resident from Yelahanka said he was told to appeal in BBMP's e-court for an issue he did not cause. Another resident also complained about the unfair treatment of honest taxpayers while some politicians and officials avoid paying taxes without any penalties. BBMP's stance A senior BBMP official defended the system, saying it automatically identifies errors and that parking spaces are taxable even if not separately listed in sale deeds. READ | Low flower prices dampen spirits ahead of Varamahalakshmi festival in Bengaluru: Report Munish Moudgil, BBMP's special commissioner for revenue, clarified that notices were meant to be sent only when the property size difference exceeded 5 per cent. However, due to a technical error, many notices went out wrongly. He assured that affected residents can appeal and their issues will be resolved quickly.
Mint
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Hundreds of Bengaluru residents get tax notices for not including car parking area! Here's what happened
A simple technical glitch in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's e-Khata has left homeowners fuming, as hundreds have received show-cause notices. E-Khata is an electronic property certificate that maintains ownership information in an online database and has been made mandatory since 1 July 2025. According to a Times of India report, homeowners in Bengaluru received a show-cause notice for not including the car parking area when mentioning the carpet size of their property. 'A notice has been issued demanding tax for the car parking slot in my apartment,' Richmond Town resident Rajat Rao told TOI. 'What is weird is that BBMP has unilaterally decided the dimensions of the parking lot, without even cross-checking documents or physically inspecting the apartment,' he added. However, the civic body officials said that the issue was triggered by a software check recently introduced by the BBMP's new system, Kauvery. The software automatically flagged any mismatch in property area details between e-khata and EPID. The TOI report said that the worst affected are the residents of Shantinagar assembly constituency, where the e-khata system was first introduced before its rollout in other parts of the city. Homeowners are demanding that Bengaluru district in-charge minister D K Shivakumar intervene and end their harassment. 'The bureaucrats piloting the e-khata project and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar should have some clarity on this. Why should we suffer and be forced to prove our credentials when they cannot streamline the system?' affected property owners asked. Calling it 'harassment,' they also questioned why handout notices were being issued 'after issuing e-khatas,' especially when the discrepancies in property tax declarations could have been pointed out earlier. 'When I raised the issue, the official suggested I appeal with BBMP's e-court. Now this is another sham. I am supposed to appeal for something that I'm not even responsible for, but has been wrongly accused of,' said Vijay Kumar, a Yelahanka resident. Another Bengaluru resident, Sudhindra Halappa Gowda, asked why they were being tortured so much. 'What about all the bureaucrats and politicians who are not even paying taxes? They are not being penalised. Why is the middle class suffering?' A senior BBMP official defended the system, saying that the staff doesn't manually input anything. 'The software picks up discrepancies. If people have entered wrong details in their e-khatas, how are we to blame?' He clarified that the car parking area is never explicitly mentioned in the sale deed in terms of size; only the super built-up area is. 'Citizens have ignored this all along, but parking space is also a property, and tax is due on it.' BBMP special commissioner (revenue), Munish Moudgil, told TOI that they intended to issue notices only in case of properties where the variation was more than 5%. 'For those under 5%, we didn't intend to send any alerts.' However, Moudgil said, due to a technical glitch on the part of NIC, mass emails were sent out even to those who were not at fault. 'These affected residents can appeal, and we will resolve the issue promptly,' he said.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
'B-Khata properties registered before Sep 30, 2024, are now A-Khata', says Karnataka deputy CM
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has said that the 'long wait is over,' as B-Khata properties registered before September 30, 2024, 'are now A-Khata.' Calling it a landmark reform, he said the move ensures legal ownership, access to civic services, and puts an end to years of uncertainty. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has said that the 'long wait is over,' as B-Khata properties registered before September 30, 2024, 'are now A-Khata.' (Representational Image)(Wiki Commons ) 'Good news for Bengaluru! The long wait is over; BKhata properties registered before September 30, 2024, are now 'A Khata.' This landmark reform ensures legal ownership, access to essential civic services, and finally puts an end to years of uncertainty. With this reform, we are bringing long- overdue order to the system and ensuring a more planned, inclusive, and empowered Bengaluru,' he said on X. In a major relief for thousands of property owners across Bengaluru, the Karnataka State Cabinet approved the regularisation of B-Khata properties issued by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) up to September 2024 last week. These properties can now be upgraded to A-Khata status, granting access to essential civic amenities such as electricity, water and sewage connections and providing long-awaited legal clarity to property owners. 'Long-awaited relief for B Khata property owners! Our government is taking a decision step by granting A Khata status, unlocking legal recognition and access to essential civic amenities like electricity, water and sanitation. This move isn't just administrative, it's about building a more inclusive, planned, and connected Bengaluru, where every family has the right to live with dignity and security,' the deputy CM had said last week. 'When giving it, we will specify the parameters. If property owners comply with the parameters, then B-Khata will be issued,' Law Minister HK Patil had told reporters after the Cabinet meeting on July 18. "To avail B-Khata, there will be certain parameters too. While A-Khata will be a perfect document, B-Khata certificates will be issued for properties with some lacunae, but with some exemptions," he had said. Also Read: Karnataka Cabinet approves regularisation of B-Khata properties in Bengaluru. Here's what it means for property owners Officials told that 'All B-Khata property owners can now apply for their property documents, which the BBMP will issue upon completion of the necessary due diligence.' "Now there will be no A-Khata or B-Khata; all such B-Khata properties will get E-Khata, which is the digital property document that the state government has started issuing since October last year," explained Anil Kalgi, secretary of Bangalore City Flat Owners' Association (BCFOA). Once regularised, B-Khata property owners will get certificates granting legal status, enabling sales, bank loans, and mortgages previously not allowed, experts said. What is a B-Khata? B-Khata is a type of property record maintained by the BBMP for properties that do not fully comply with legal and planning norms. These include buildings in unauthorised layouts, constructions without approved plans, or those lacking occupancy certificates. Even though these properties are not entirely legal, owners are still required to pay property tax, and their details are recorded for tax purposes. Also Read: Bengaluru real estate: From July 1, e-Khata mandatory for all BBMP properties. Have you got yours? However, owning a B-Khata property comes with several drawbacks. These properties are not considered fully legal and face restrictions when it comes to selling, getting building approvals, or applying for trade licenses. Banks and financial institutions usually do not offer loans against them. Compared to A-Khata properties, which are fully compliant with local laws, B-Khata properties generally have lower market value and limited legal benefits, experts say. Currently, B-Khata properties fall outside the scope of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (KTCP) Act, 1961, leaving them unregulated and prone to violations, often resulting in unsafe constructions. To address this, the government has proposed granting A-Khata status to buildings constructed on unauthorised layouts whether currently without any Khata or holding a B-Khata under Section 17 of the KTCP Act, provided they meet specified conditions, experts said. The cut-off date for eligibility is September 30, 2024, for B-Khata properties where construction, single or multi-storeyed, has already taken place. This aligns with the provisions of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, which prohibits issuing B-Khatas for unauthorised properties created after that date, they said.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Bengaluru: Electricity meter name transfer soon to go online for a hassle-free experience
Soon, consumers of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) will be able to easily transfer the ownership of electricity meters to their names without much hassle. Bescom, in association with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), is integrating an 'automatic name change trigger' on its online portal, which will facilitate the transfer based on the property ID number. Lakhs of electricity consumers, specifically those in apartments, have long struggled with the name transfer of electricity meters from builders/landowners to the owners of individual apartment units. Initially, when apartments are built, the electricity meters are provided under the name of the builders or landowners. While for many years, consumers remained unaware of the fact that they should eventually transfer the meters to their name, the introduction of the Gruha Jyothi Scheme and now BBMP's E-Khata has prompted them to go ahead with the process. 'We are getting many requests; some subdivisions are getting five applications a day for transfer of names after E-Khata has been made mandatory. Hence, the managing director decided to set up a new system on our Web Self Service (WSS) portal ( to transfer names in a hassle-free manner,' said a senior Bescom official. They further said that the mechanism will work in such a way that after entering the consumer's property ID on the Bescom portal, it will automatically transfer the electricity meter to their name. 'The system is under development, and we are waiting for some communication from BBMP. Once everything falls into place, the trigger system will be functional,' the official said. 'Unaware' For now, although an online system exists for consumers to use for name transfer, most of them are either unaware of it or do not use it, as it requires the uploading of multiple documents. Many of them also end up paying bribes either to middlemen/agents or even junior officials in sub-division offices to get names transferred. 'My electricity meter was under the name of the builder, and I wanted to transfer it to my name when I was getting my E-Khata done. I found out from other residents in my apartment complex that going to the subdivision office and getting the name changed will take multiple visits. As a working professional, I can't go many times. I tried doing it online, but I was not sure which portal I was supposed to use. I ended up paying ₹5,000 to an agent who had helped many others in my apartment, to get the name transferred,' explained Kamalesh Sharma, a resident of an apartment complex in Yelahanka. Commenting on the lack of awareness about the process, Vikram Rai, secretary, Bangalore Apartment Federation (BAF), said, 'Many do not even know that the meter is not in their names. It is necessary to create awareness and break the knowledge gap regarding this. We have released a white paper that details all the steps to avail this transfer.' He also said that resident welfare associations (RWA) often face challenges while getting the name transfer for common area meters, too. 'Even here, they are not aware that they should get the name changed until they go for rooftop solar installations,' he said.
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
E-Khata woes continue: Server glitches, delays affecting property owners
Bengaluru: Despite the government's push to digitise property records and streamline ownership processes, Bengaluru continues to grapple with widespread issues surrounding the implementation of the E-Khata system. Nine months since its rollout on October 1, 2023, the project is plagued with technical problems, lack of documentation, and administrative bottlenecks, leaving thousands of property owners frustrated. In a city with nearly 25 lakh properties under the BBMP limits, only around 5.34 lakh E-Khatas have been officially issued. The system was introduced with the intent to curb real estate fraud, prevent duplicate sales, and provide rightful owners with secure digital property records. However, server outages, incomplete data, and delays in processing have crippled the initiative. While BBMP offices, Bangalore One centres, and E-Khata melas are accepting applications, citizens complain of long wait times, document upload failures, and verification glitches. Even when applications are submitted successfully, errors and lack of rectification options are causing further delays. Nearly 75% of eligible property owners are yet to apply due to these complications. The absence of server reliability has made even basic steps like scanning and uploading documents a challenge. In many cases, mismatch with BBMP records leads to the transfer of applications to Assistant Revenue Officers. However, these officials lack the authority to correct errors, resulting in stagnation at the caseworker level. From July 1, E-Khata has been made mandatory for building plan approvals and commencement certificates (CC) within BBMP limits. Without it, new constructions cannot proceed, and ongoing buildings cannot apply for occupancy certificates (OC). This has impacted construction, property sales, and even access to housing loans, leaving many in limbo. Compounding the issue is the existence of over 5 lakh properties without any khata—many of which continue to be traded at sub-registrar offices. These properties often fall outside the BBMP tax net, undermining municipal revenue. So far, only 24,082 owners have applied for new khatas, with several documents still pending verification. BBMP officials acknowledge the problems. Special Commissioner (Revenue) Munish Moudgil admitted minor errors in the application system and server lags, stating, 'We are working to fix these issues. It may take another month to resolve the delays in issuing new E-Khatas.' As the pressure mounts, property owners are urging BBMP to deploy more staff, improve public awareness, and ensure faster resolution to prevent disruption in property-related transactions across the city.
