The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has issued interim recommendations to the State government and the Greater Bengaluru Authority after the eviction of more than 160 houses at Kogilu Layout in Yelahanka, Bengaluru. The commission emphasised that while development in the public interest may be necessary, such actions must not infringe constitutional rights, including the right to life, dignity, rehabilitation and compensation.
Kogilu Layout eviction relief
The matter first drew formal attention when multiple cases were registered on 21 December 2025 following the eviction drive. Acting on its own directions, the SHRC dispatched officials to inspect the site on 29 December 2025 and conducted hearings with affected families to assess conditions and immediate needs.
In its interim recommendations the commission urged authorities to ensure that no household is rendered homeless. It called for prompt provision of alternative housing arrangements and suggested that available government land in the vicinity be used to establish temporary shelters, including tents. The SHRC also recommended the immediate supply of hot meals to those displaced.
Beyond accommodation and food, the commission highlighted basic public health needs. It asked for the provision of clean drinking water at the site and the establishment of a mobile health centre to attend to urgent medical requirements. Temporary accommodation should be provided with toilet facilities to protect those rendered homeless from the cold and to maintain hygiene standards.
The SHRC reiterated the duty of the state to balance development objectives with human rights obligations. The commission noted that eviction carried out without adequate prior rehabilitation and compensation could amount to a violation of constitutional protections. To that end, its interim directions have been forwarded to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Karnataka and the Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority for immediate action.
Community representatives who appeared before the commission described acute distress among residents following the clearances. Many families said they lost not only their homes but also personal belongings and primary sources of livelihood. The SHRC’s intervention, while interim in nature, aims to address immediate humanitarian needs while longer term legal and rehabilitation issues are considered.
Authorities have been urged to adopt a humane and transparent approach as they implement the recommendations. The use of nearby government land for temporary shelters is framed as a short-term emergency measure, while the commission’s broader inquiry will examine whether adequate notice, due process and rehabilitative steps were observed prior to the evictions.
The SHRC’s recommendations stress that development projects should not override the constitutional guarantee to live with dignity. The interim measures seek to stabilise the situation on the ground and prevent further harm to those displaced, with the expectation that the State government and the Greater Bengaluru Authority will respond quickly to secure shelter, food, health services and sanitation for affected families.
Key Takeaways:
- SHRC has recommended immediate alternative housing and temporary shelters for families affected by the Kogilu Layout eviction relief drive.
- Officials inspected the site after multiple cases were filed; hearings were held with more than 160 displaced households.
- Interim measures include use of nearby government land for tents, provision of hot food, clean drinking water and a mobile health centre.
- Recommendations have been sent to the Chief Secretary and the Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority for action.
