RTI in Karnataka: Bhoomi Land Records, BESCOM Electricity, and BBMP Civic Administration

Karnataka is one of India's most urbanised states, with Bengaluru — a city of over 12 million — at its centre. The combination of rapid urbanisation, agricultural hinterland, and a large technology-sector population that is used to demanding accountability makes Karnataka one of the more active RTI-filing states in the country. The Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) in Bengaluru handles second appeals for state public authorities, and KIC orders are among the most cited in Indian RTI jurisprudence.

This guide is a focused second layer on top of the general Karnataka RTI guide. It goes deep into three specific, high-volume systems: the Bhoomi land records platform, BESCOM (and other discoms), and BBMP civic administration. All three are Karnataka State public authorities. Second appeals for all of them go to the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act, 2005. The general guide covers the two-track system (state vs central) and the KIC's structure — refer to that guide before filing if you are new to RTI in Karnataka.

Bhoomi — Karnataka Land Records System

Bhoomi ("earth" in Kannada) is the Karnataka Revenue Department's digital platform for land records, launched in the early 2000s as one of India's earliest e-governance success stories. The Bhoomi system is maintained by the Revenue Department through the District Collectorate and Taluks (talukas). The frontline revenue officer who maintains land records is the Revenue Inspector (RI), and the records themselves are certified by the Tahsildar of the relevant taluk.

Key Documents in the Bhoomi System

RTC (Record of Tenancy and Crops / Hakkubedhi Chitta in Kannada): The RTC is the equivalent of the 7/12 extract in Maharashtra or the Khatauni in UP. It is the primary record of rights for agricultural and revenue land in Karnataka. The RTC shows the survey number and hissa (sub-division) number, the name of the registered owner, the nature of possession (owner, tenant, mortgagee in possession), the area, the type of land (dry, wet, garden), and any liabilities or encumbrances.

Pahani: The detailed field account for each survey number — shows area, cultivation details, water source, soil type, and crop particulars. Mostly subsumed into the RTC in the digitised Bhoomi system but still referred to separately in some districts.

Mutation Register (Hakkubedhi): Every change in land ownership — by sale, inheritance, gift, court order, or government acquisition — requires a mutation entry. In Karnataka, this is called "Hakkubedhi" (hak = rights, bedhi = change). Mutations are processed by the Tahsildar and are visible in the RTC's encumbrance/mutation column once approved.

An Important Confusion: RTC vs Khatha

This distinction confuses many Bengaluru property owners. They are different documents maintained by different authorities:

• RTC is maintained by the Revenue Department (District Collectorate / Tahsildar). It records ownership of a land parcel in the state's revenue system. Relevant for agricultural land, sites in rural areas, and the underlying land rights in all areas.
• Khatha is a record maintained by the urban local body — BBMP in Bengaluru, or the relevant City Municipal Council (CMC) or Town Municipal Council (TMC) elsewhere. The Khatha registers a property for property tax purposes with the municipal body. A Khatha is issued when a site or building is brought within the municipal limits and assessed for tax.

You can have a valid RTC without a Khatha (agricultural land not under a municipality), a Khatha without a clean RTC (disputed situations), or both. When buying property in Karnataka, you need both to be in order. RTI for RTC goes to the Revenue Department (Tahsildar/Circle); RTI for Khatha goes to BBMP or the relevant urban local body.

RTI Questions for Bhoomi / RTC Records

Certified RTC copy:

"Certified copy of the current Record of Tenancy and Crops (RTC / Hakkubedhi Chitta) for Survey number X Hissa X in Village X, Hobli X, Taluk X, District X. The names of all registered holders, the nature of possession, total area, type of land, and all notations including encumbrances, liabilities, and court orders."

Complete mutation (Hakkubedhi) history:

"The complete mutation history — all Hakkubedhi entries — for Survey number X in Village X, Hobli X, Taluk X from year to date. For each mutation: the mutation number, date of order, names of previous holder and incoming holder, the stated basis for mutation, and the name and designation of the Tahsildar who approved it."

Court stay or dispute notation:

"Whether any dispute, court stay, injunction, or special notation is currently recorded in the RTC for Survey number X in Village X, Taluk X. A copy of any endorsement, court order, or official notation on the basis of which such a remark was made."

Pending mutation application status:

"Current status of mutation application (Hakkubedhi application) number X filed on date at Taluk Taluk for Survey number X in Village X. The date on which the application was registered, the name and designation of the Revenue Inspector or Tahsildar to whom it is currently assigned, and the specific reasons for the delay if the prescribed time limit has expired."

Saguvali Chit — Land Grant Under Land Reform Schemes

The Saguvali Chit is the grant document issued by the Karnataka Revenue Department to beneficiaries under the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 and scheduled caste / scheduled tribe land grant schemes. It certifies that government land has been granted to a particular beneficiary. RTI for Saguvali Chit:

"Copy of the Saguvali Chit / grant order issued for Survey number X in Village X, Hobli X, Taluk X to the beneficiary name, if known under the scheme name, if known. The conditions attached to the grant, including any restrictions on alienation, and whether these conditions are currently in force."

BDA — Bangalore Development Authority

BDA (Bangalore Development Authority) plans and develops land in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region. It acquires land, forms layouts, and allots sites. BDA is a Karnataka State body; second appeals go to the KIC.

"The allotment order for site number X in layout X allotted by BDA. The name of the original allottee, the date of allotment, and the basis of allotment (scheme name, category). Whether the absolute sale deed has been executed in favour of the allottee and the date of registration."

"Whether the layout X developed by BDA has received CDP/BDA approval and whether the formation of roads and provision of civic amenities as required under BDA's scheme have been completed as of date."

BESCOM and Karnataka's Electricity Distribution Companies

Karnataka has five electricity distribution companies (discoms), each serving a geographic area:

• BESCOM (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd) — serves Bengaluru urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Tumkur, Ramanagara, and Davangere districts
• HESCOM (Hubli Electricity Supply Company) — serves Dharwad, Gadag, Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, and Haveri districts
• CESC (Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation) — serves Mysuru, Kodagu, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Mandya districts
• GESCOM (Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company) — serves Kalaburagi, Bidar, Vijayapura, Yadgir, and Raichur districts
• MESCOM (Mangalore Electricity Supply Company) — serves Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga, and Chikkamagaluru districts

All five are Karnataka State public authorities. Second appeals go to the KIC.

The Consumer Affairs, Complaints, and Appeals Officer within each discom is typically the designated First Appellate Authority for electricity billing complaints. The PIO for RTI purposes is usually the Deputy General Manager (DGM) or equivalent officer at the relevant subdivision or division office — identify the correct office based on your consumer number's prefix.

RTI for Billing Disputes

"The meter reading records for service connection number X at address for the last 12 billing cycles. For each billing cycle: the date on which the reading was recorded, the actual meter reading, and whether the reading was taken on-site by a meter reader or computed as an estimated reading. The name and employee ID of the meter reader who visited the premises during each cycle."

"Whether the meter installed at service connection number X has been tested for accuracy within the last three years. If yes, the date of the test, the test outcome, and the name of the officer who certified the result. If not tested within three years, the reasons."

RTI for New Service Connections

"Status of new electricity service connection application bearing reference number X filed at Sub-Division / Division name on date. Whether a site inspection has been conducted by the Junior Engineer or Assistant Executive Engineer, and if so, the date and the outcome. Whether any additional demand — for infrastructure cost, deposit, or transformer capacity upgrade — has been raised, and the amount and basis of such demand. The name of the officer currently responsible for the application."

RTI for Feeder-Wise Outage Data

"The number of hours of unscheduled (forced) power outage on feeder feeder number / name serving locality / area in district during the month of month, year. For each outage exceeding two hours: the date, the duration, and the reported cause (feeder fault, transformer failure, planned maintenance, or other). The total hours of unscheduled outage in this feeder during the month."

RTI for Agricultural and Other Connections

"The waiting list for new agricultural service connection applications in sub-division name as of date. The position of application bearing reference number X filed by applicant name on date. The expected date of connection based on the current waiting list and connection rate."

BBMP — Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike

BBMP is Bengaluru's metropolitan civic body, established under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Act, 2020. It administers roads, buildings, drainage, solid waste management, and property tax for the city. BBMP is a Karnataka State public authority; second appeals go to the KIC.

BBMP is divided into zones and wards. Most citizen-level RTI applications should be addressed to the PIO at the relevant Zonal Office or Ward-level Executive Engineer / Revenue Officer, not to the central BBMP headquarters on N R Square unless the matter is specifically headquarters-level (such as a policy decision or BBMP Commissioner's order).

RTI for Building Plan Approval and Occupancy Certificate

Bengaluru has a significant problem with buildings that are occupied without a valid Occupancy Certificate (OC). RTI on building plans and OC status is one of the most-filed RTI categories with BBMP.

"The approved building plan for site number X in layout name / survey number located at address / ward. The date of sanction, the permissible floor area ratio (FAR) and the FAR availed in the sanctioned plan, and the name of the licensed engineer or architect who certified the plan."

"Whether an Occupancy Certificate (OC) / Completion Certificate has been issued by BBMP for the building located at full address / site number. If an OC has been issued, the certificate number and date. If an OC has not been issued, the specific reasons for non-issuance and the current status of the OC application, including the date it was filed and the name of the officer currently responsible."

"Whether any notice for unauthorised construction or deviation from the sanctioned building plan has been issued for the property at address / site number. Whether any demolition notice has been issued under Section 321 of the BBMP Act and whether it has been stayed or confirmed."

RTI for Khatha Records

"The Khatha number and the current recorded Khatha holder for the property at address / site number as per BBMP records. The date of the last Khatha transfer and the document type and number on the basis of which the transfer was made. Whether the property is an 'A Khatha' or 'B Khatha' as per BBMP classification."

Note: A-Khatha properties are those with fully approved layouts and BBMP-compliant documentation. B-Khatha properties are those whose underlying land use or layout approval is irregular. The B-Khatha classification has significant implications for financing and resale — RTI can establish the basis of the classification.

"Whether the property at address / site number is classified as A-Khatha or B-Khatha in BBMP records. The specific reason(s) for the B-Khatha classification, and whether any regularisation process is pending or available for this property."

RTI for Property Tax

"The current property tax assessment for the property bearing PID (Property Identification) number X or Khatha number X in ward. The basis of valuation — Self-Assessment Scheme (SAS) declared value or BBMP-determined value. The date of the last assessment revision. Whether any arrears of property tax are outstanding, and the amount and period to which the arrears relate."

RTI for Storm Water Drains and Encroachment

Bengaluru's recurring flooding is closely tied to the encroachment of Rajakaluves — storm water drains — and the filling in of wetlands. RTI is actively used by residents' associations and activists to document encroachment and the inaction that follows.

"Whether the Rajakaluwe (storm water drain) adjacent to address / survey number is shown on the BBMP storm water drain master plan. The surveyed width of the drain at this location. Whether any encroachment has been recorded on this stretch of the Rajakaluwe. The action taken by BBMP on encroachment complaints received for this location, including complaint number X dated date, and the name of the officer responsible for enforcement."

"The list of all encroachments on Rajakaluves and storm water drains in ward name that have been identified by BBMP since year. For each identified encroachment: the survey number, the name of the encroacher (if a public record), the date of identification, the notice issued, and the outcome of enforcement action."

RERA Karnataka

The Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Karnataka is a state body under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. Second appeals go to the KIC.

"The current registration status of the real estate project with RERA Karnataka bearing registration number X. Whether the developer has submitted all quarterly progress reports as required. Whether any complaints have been registered against this project with RERA Karnataka and the current status of each complaint."

"Whether any recovery certificate or enforcement order has been issued by RERA Karnataka against the promoter of project name, registration number in relation to compensation or refund ordered to allottee(s). The date, amount, and current enforcement status."

Filing RTI in Karnataka: Practical Notes

The Karnataka government operates an online RTI portal for state public authorities. Verify the current portal URL on the official Karnataka government website (karnataka.gov.in) before filing — do not rely on third-party links. Offline applications can be sent by post or submitted in person to the PIO.

Application fee is ₹10 under the RTI Act. BPL cardholders are exempt under Section 7(5). Karnataka state RTI fee rules specify accepted payment modes — verify these before sending.

Response deadline: 30 days under Section 7(1). First Appeal under Section 19(1): file with the FAA within the same department within 30 days. Second Appeal to the KIC under Section 19(3): file within 90 days of the First Appeal decision or deemed refusal.

For Bhoomi RTI specifically, responses from Taluk-level offices can be slow — the 30-day deadline applies, but follow-up First Appeals are often necessary. KIC has passed strong orders on timeliness of land record responses, and citing this in your First Appeal or second appeal will be useful.