IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 9^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA

WRIT PETITION No.34194/2025 (BDA)

BETWEEN:

SRI M.G. PATIL

S/O LATE GANGANAGOWDA PATIL,

AGED ABOUT 69 YEARS,

PERMANENT RESIDENT OF

CHULAKI PARASGAD,

BELAGAUM- 591110

PRESENTLY RESIDING AT C/O B.S. PATIL, NO.124,

6^TH ‘C’ MAIN ROAD,

REMCO LAYOUT, VIJAYANAGAR,

BENGALURU-560040.

...PETITIONER

(BY SRI CHANDRACHUD A., ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE COMMISSIONER,

BANGALORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,

KUMARA PARK WEST,

T. CHOWDAIAH ROAD,

BENGALURU-560020.

2. THE DEPUTY SECRETARY-4,

BANGALORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,

KUMARA PARK WEST, T. COWDAIAH ROAD, BENGALURU-560020.

...RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI POONAM PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R-1 & R-2)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS, BENGALURU DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION DATED 18/12/2024 PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-A; ISSUE APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION AND GRANT SUCH OTHER FURTHER RELIEF/S AS THIS HON’BLE COURT DEEMS FIT TO GRANT IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE.

THIS WRIT PETITION HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR ORDERS ON 18/12/2025, COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:

CORAM: HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA

CAV O R D E R

The petitioner has approached this Court seeking a writ of mandamus directing Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to consider and dispose of his representation dated 18.12.2024, whereby he seeks refund of the excess differential site value collected while allotting an alternative site, contending that such collection was illegal, arbitrary, and attributable solely to the fault of the respondent–

Authority.

2. The petitioner was originally allotted Site No.1574 in BTM Layout, 4^th Stage, 2^nd Block, Bengaluru in the year 2007. Pursuant thereto, he paid the requisite site value, was put in possession, and a lease-cum-sale agreement was executed. Subsequently, due to disputes and litigation involving the original landowners, the petitioner could not utilize the said site. On his request, the original allotment was cancelled and an alternative Site No.5BC-312 in HRBR Layout, 3^rd Block was allotted in October 2020.

3. While processing the alternative allotment, the respondent–BDA demanded payment of a substantial differential site value. The petitioner paid the said amount in August 2022 under protest and under apprehension of losing the alternative site. Thereafter, an absolute sale deed dated 01.01.2024 was executed in his favour and possession was delivered. Claiming that the differential amount was illegally collected despite identical applicable rates and despite the alternative allotment having been necessitated due to the inability of the BDA to deliver the originally allotted site, the petitioner submitted a detailed representation dated 18.12.2024 seeking refund. As the said representation remains undisposed of, the present writ petition has been filed.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the alternative site allotment was not a fresh allotment but only a substitution for the original site, which became unusable for reasons not attributable to the petitioner. It is contended that the demand and collection of differential site value is arbitrary, illegal, and unjust, particularly when the rates applicable to both layouts were the same. The payment was made under compulsion, only to safeguard the allotment. The non-consideration of the representation dated 18.12.2024 violates principles of fairness and warrants interference.

5. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the respondents submits that the alternative site was allotted at the request of the petitioner and strictly in accordance with Rule 11-A of the Bangalore Development Authority (Allotment of Sites) Rules, 1984 (‘BDA Allotment of Sites Rules’ for short). It is contended that the original site was not de-notified and that the cancellation