The Karnataka High Court has mandated the state government to pursue both disciplinary and criminal actions against local authority officials who process plan sanctions or occupancy certificates for industrial areas established by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, or Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation Ltd., without proper jurisdiction.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj provided this directive after noting that the authority to grant plan sanctions, development plans, occupancy certificates, and commencement certificates for properties in industrial areas, estates, or single unit complexes lies exclusively with KIADB and KSSIDC.
This decision followed a state government notification in July, based on recommendations from a court-appointed committee, which confirmed these organisations’ exclusive authority over building plan approvals.
The case originated when Y Venkatesh, who owned an industrial plot in Bommasandra industrial area, Bengaluru, challenged authorities’ demolition orders.
His building, which housed a restaurant, was constructed based on plans approved by the Anekal panchayat, which lacked the legal authority to grant such approvals.
Following the government’s assertion that local bodies lack jurisdiction over industrial area building plans, the court instructed the petitioner to submit a proper plan sanction application to KIADB.
Additionally, the court authorised KIADB to inspect the building for compliance with applicable bylaws and order the demolition of any non-compliant portions.
