Bengaluru
oi-Madhuri Adnal
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday allowed the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to seal paying guest (PG) facilities operating illegally in Bengaluru, after the civic body told the court that several establishments had failed to correct violations despite repeated warnings.
A bench headed by Justice Suraj Govindaraj was hearing petitions filed by Princess Ladies PG and three other establishments challenging notices issued by the GBA.
Following repeated warnings and non-compliance, the Karnataka High Court permitted the Greater Bengaluru Authority to seal unauthorized PG facilities in Bengaluru, highlighting issues with safety regulations and the licensing of over 65% of surveyed establishments.
The court was informed that some PG operators had not complied with earlier directions, including closure orders issued by the civic body.
GBA counsel B S Karthikeyan told the court that the operators had made no serious effort to address the violations.
“No action has been taken by them to rectify violations. They are not taking it seriously despite orders of this court and even closure orders passed by the GBA,” he said.
The court questioned the operators’ approach, pointing out that while PG accommodation was essential for people working in Bengaluru, that did not give owners the freedom to run their establishments without following the rules.
“Your PGs are required for people but not in the manner which you are running it,” the bench told the counsel.
It also warned that continued non-compliance could create problems for the many people who depend on PG facilities for accommodation in the city. The court noted that action against establishments that failed to meet the requirements could affect employees, employers and businesses as well.
The High Court urged PG operators to address safety concerns without further delay. These include installing CCTV cameras, providing fire safety equipment, ensuring proper security arrangements and maintaining food and drinking water quality.
In its September 10 order, the court had laid down detailed guidelines for PG facilities. It said these establishments must operate from premises where such use is legally permitted and maintain conditions that protect residents’ lives, health, safety and dignity.
The guidelines also require operators to ensure that their establishments do not violate the lawful interests of neighbours or the public.
The court stressed that authorities must regularly inspect PG facilities and check whether they are complying with the rules, rather than treating the grant of a licence as a one-time exercise.
It called for a continuing, risk-based system to identify violations, inspect establishments and ensure compliance.
A recent GBA audit has highlighted the extent of the problem in Bengaluru. Of the 5,480 PG facilities covered by the audit, 3,597 were found to be operating without licences. This means more than 65% of the facilities surveyed lacked the required licence.
The East City Corporation recorded the highest number of unauthorised PGs, at 2,103, followed by the South City Corporation with 621.
The eastern parts of Bengaluru, including Whitefield, Mahadevapura, KR Puram, Indiranagar and CV Raman Nagar, have a large number of IT companies and multinational firms. Many employees working in these areas depend on PG accommodation.
The High Court has also warned that officials who fail to act against PGs violating the rules could be held responsible if an untoward incident occurs at such premises.
To improve oversight, the court suggested creating a digital database of all PG facilities operating in Bengaluru.
The High Court ordered inspections of PG facilities across the city in February. The GBA initially focused on establishments in the East City Corporation before extending the drive to the remaining four city corporations.
The latest direction allows the civic body to take stronger action, including sealing establishments that continue to operate illegally or fail to address violations.
