Greater Bengaluru Bill Fails to Empower Citizens
The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill (GBGB) has left many disappointed, failing to meet the expectations of citizens and constitutional requirements. Despite efforts by the joint select committee (JSC) to conduct public consultations across various zones, the final bill continues to concentrate power in the state government, undermining the very principles of local self-governance.One of the most significant concerns with the bill is its failure to address the timely conduct of elections, a key mandate of the 74th Constitutional Amendment (74th CA).
According to the Constitution, the State Election Commission (SEC) should oversee the delimitation of wards, reservations, and election notifications. However, the GBGB allows the state government to retain control over these processes, creating a situation where Bengaluru may continue to lack a democratically elected local government for years.
Another troubling aspect is the formation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). The GBA, which will be headed by the Chief Minister and include ministers, MLAs, MPs, and bureaucrats, directly contravenes the spirit of the 74th CA.
This arrangement effectively undermines the independence of local governance by giving higher levels of government undue influence over urban local bodies (ULBs). Furthermore, the bill designates the GBA as the “planning authority” for Bengaluru, replacing the constitutionally mandated Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC), further centralising control.
Despite calls from civil society organisations (CSOs) for a more decentralised approach, the JSC’s final version of the bill continues to centralise power in the GBA.
The committee’s recommendation to remove the financial advisory committee, which was intended to ensure equitable development, was seen as a step backward, particularly after it had previously been included in earlier drafts.The revised bill also significantly limits citizen participation in the governance process. While the original bill included provisions for Area Sabhas forums for citizens to directly engage in decision-making the final draft has scrapped these entirely. Instead, the bill proposes advisory ward committees, where the councillor holds veto power, thus curbing meaningful citizen input in local planning.
Moreover, the GBGB empowers the GBA to impose bye-laws on the seven proposed municipal corporations, further weakening their autonomy. These provisions undermine the principles of local self-governance and bypass the constitutional safeguards meant to protect citizen rights and participation in urban planning.In summary, the Greater Bengaluru Bill, if passed, will continue to concentrate power in the hands of the state government and diminish citizens’ role in the governance of their city. The bill’s failure to align with the principles of the 74th Constitutional Amendment signals a step back for Bengaluru’s democratic development, leaving citizens feeling disempowered and excluded from the decision-making process that directly affects their lives.
