Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Karnataka Government: Kogilu Residents Have No Valid Land Documents
Some families used to live in two small settlements called Wasim and Fakir in Kogilu, near Bengaluru in India.
The government removed the huts where they lived.
Some of the families thought this was unfair, so they asked a court called the Karnataka High Court for help.
The government told the judge that the land was never officially given to the families.
It said that some land papers the families showed were not real.
It also said other papers were about different pieces of land.
The government said some people did not want to move to rehabilitation centres and tried to build new huts.
A special helper of the court visited the area and gave a report to the judge.
The judge said the families should get one more week to reply, and then the court will hear more.
The Karnataka government told the High Court that land in Kogilu's Wasim and Fakir settlements was never officially allotted to the residents.
Documents submitted by six residents were examined under Section 94CC and found not to be genuine, the government said.
Documents from another eight residents related to different parcels of land, not the cleared area, according to the government.
The court was hearing a PIL by Zaiba Tabassum, Rehana and Arif Begum challenging the demolition drive in the settlements as unconstitutional.
The court granted the petitioners one week to respond to the government's objections and adjourned the hearing.
- Who
- The Karnataka government (represented by Additional Advocate General Prathima Honnapur), petitioners Zaiba Tabassum, Rehana and Arif Begum, and a bench headed by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru at the Karnataka High Court.
- What
- A court hearing over whether Kogilu settlers had valid land allotment documents, following a public interest litigation challenging a demolition drive in the Wasim and Fakir settlements as unconstitutional.
- When
- Not specified in the article.
- Where
- Karnataka High Court, Bengaluru; the disputed settlements are in Kogilu.
- Why
- The government argues the land was never officially allotted and residents' documents are invalid, while the petitioners challenge the demolition as unconstitutional.
Residents and Petitioners
Karnataka Government
Legality of the demolition
Residents and Petitioners
The demolition drive in the Wasim and Fakir settlements is unconstitutional; residents had built homes on the land and produced documents claiming ownership.
Karnataka Government
The land was never officially allotted to anyone, no title deeds were issued, and only hut-like structures were removed during the eviction.
Validity of residents' land documents
Residents and Petitioners
Residents hold ownership documents supporting their claims to the disputed property.
Karnataka Government
Documents from six residents were found not genuine and documents from eight residents related to different parcels of land, not the cleared area.
Rehabilitation and rebuilding
Residents and Petitioners
The demolition should be declared unconstitutional and residents should be allowed to stay or be properly rehabilitated.
Karnataka Government
Several residents refused to move to rehabilitation centres and were attempting to rebuild huts on the cleared site.
- Disputed area
- Wasim and Fakir settlements, Kogilu, Bengaluru
- Petitioners
- Zaiba Tabassum, Rehana and Arif Begum
- Government counsel
- Additional Advocate General Prathima Honnapur
- Documents found not genuine
- 6 residents (under Section 94CC)
- Documents for other parcels
- 8 residents
- Bench
- Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru
- Amicus curiae
- B V Vidyullatha
- Court action
- Petitioners granted one week to respond; hearing adjourned