Bengaluru: BDA is required to follow all the rules and regulations under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, including registration of projects, as it falls within the definition of a promoter when it develops layouts and sells plots.Karnataka Real Estate Appellate Tribunal made the observation in its March 3 judgment upholding an order of K-Rera on registering Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL).However, BDA officials told TOI that they will approach the high court against the tribunal’s order.The case arose out of order dated Nov 7, 2025, passed by K-Rera and complaints filed by allottees of the NPKL project. The K-Rera allowed the complaints and issued several directions to BDA. BDA challenged the order before the appellate tribunal.In its order, the tribunal rejected BDA’s preliminary objection that it lacked jurisdiction because BDA is a statutory planning authority. The tribunal held that NKPL is an ongoing real estate project requiring registration under the K-Rera rules.The tribunal, comprising judicial member Santosh Kumar Shetty and administrative member Mahendra Jain, referred to provisions of the Rera Act and observed that the definition of “promoter” is inclusive and specifically covers development authorities and other public bodies that develop plots or construct buildings on land owned by them or placed at their disposal by the govt for sale to the public.The tribunal concluded that BDA, when developing layouts, falls within the ambit of a promoter under the Act. It noted: “The definition therefore applies to all developers, whether private sector players or public sector entities, with a view to standardise accountability and enhance transparency across the real estate sector.”The tribunal also observed that BDA executes lease-cum-sale agreements with allottees similar to agreements entered into by private promoters, making both parties bound by the timelines and possession conditions mentioned in such agreements. It added that BDA must comply with Rera provisions relating to project registration, duties of promoters, and the rights of allottees under the Act.The tribunal ordered that the appeal filed by BDA was dismissed at the stage of admission, holding that the provisions of the Act are squarely applicable to it. Consequently, the order dated Nov 7, 2025, passed by K-Rera was confirmed.Box: 10,000 families in limboNPKL, which was supposed to be completed by Dec 31, 2021, left more than 10,000 families in limbo. Spread across 4,043 acres in nine blocks between Mysuru Road and Magadi Road, the layout saw uneven progress. As of June 2025, as much as 93% of the roads and drains were completed, while only 46% of the soil stabilisation work was done. In March 2025, the project was marked as ‘lapsed’ by Rera.
