Bengaluru Demolitions: Karnataka HC Seeks Govt Response to PIL, Demands Immediate Relief for Displaced Residents

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In a move to address the recent demolition drive in Bengaluru, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to file a detailed response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by affected residents. The PIL, which challenges the December 20 demolition drive in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony, claims that over 300 houses were razed without prior notice, leaving families without a home. The court, comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Pooncha, was informed by the state government that three locations have been identified for the temporary rehabilitation of displaced residents. However, the petitioners' lawyer argued that these measures should have been in place before the demolition and that the residents were denied an opportunity to be heard. The Karnataka government had announced that aid and housing would be provided to displaced residents on 'humanitarian grounds', citing the illegality of the demolished structures. However, the petitioners claim that they have lived in the area for decades and that the authorities conducted the demolition in violation of Supreme Court guidelines on evictions. The court has posted the matter for hearing on January 22 and directed the state government to provide a detailed response within a week. The petitioners have been granted liberty to file a rejoinder within a week after the state files its response. As the dispute continues, the court's decision to seek a detailed response from the state government is a crucial step in addressing the concerns of the affected residents.