Ramanagara DC can examine legality of temple on Rajakaluve: Karnataka HC

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has reserved liberty for the Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru South District (Ramanagara), to examine the legality of a temple construction allegedly raised in the buffer zone of a rajakaluve (stormwater drain) by the Prestige Falcon City Apartment Owners Association at Konanakunte Cross, Kanakapura Road.

Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav granted this liberty to the Deputy Commissioner (Bengaluru South), the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and tahsildar while hearing a petition filed by 15 residents of Prestige Falcon City Apartments.

"In the interregnum, till completion of service of notice, liberty is reserved to respondent No 4, deputy commissioner, and tahsildar, who are to look into the legality of the construction stated to have been put up by respondent No 1 (owners association), in light of the pleadings, including that proposed construction is being put up in the buffer zone of the rajakaluve,” the court said, while ordering notice to the authorities.

The petition challenges a resolution dated April 18, 2025, passed by the Apartment Owners Association approving a special committee for constructing the temple.

The petitioners, Bhavya NL and others, submitted several representations to the BBMP and other authorities regarding the alleged illegal construction in the buffer zone.

They have also urged the court to direct the BBMP, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom), and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to consider their representations. In addition, the petitioners have sought a land survey and an inquiry into the alleged illegal construction.