Mysore Urban Development Authority

The Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) is a statutory urban development authority established under The Mysuru Development Authority Act, 2024 (Karnataka Act No. 39 of 2025) for the planning and development of the City of Mysuru and areas adjacent thereto, known as the Mysuru Local Planning Area. The Act received the assent of the Governor of Karnataka on 13 May 2025 and was first published in the Karnataka Gazette Extraordinary on 14 May 2025.

The MDA supersedes and dissolves the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), which had been constituted on 16 May 1988 under the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities Act, 1987 (Karnataka Act 34 of 1987). The MDA simultaneously becomes the Local Planning Authority for the Mysuru Local Planning Area under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961.

Background and Legislative History

The Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) had functioned for over three decades as the planning and development body for Mysuru under the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities Act, 1987, which applied uniformly to all urban development authorities across Karnataka. Growing recognition that Mysuru — as a heritage city, a major urban agglomeration, and a distinct planning environment — required a dedicated, independent statutory framework led the Karnataka State Legislature to introduce purpose-specific legislation.

The Mysuru Development Authority Act, 2024 was enacted in the seventy-fifth year of the Republic of India. It was passed by the Karnataka State Legislature, received the Governor's assent on 13 May 2025, and was gazette-notified on 14 May 2025 as Karnataka Act No. 39 of 2025.

Dissolution of MUDA and Transition

Upon the issue of the State Government notification constituting the Mysuru Development Authority under Section 3 of the Act, the Mysore Urban Development Authority stands dissolved. All members including the Chairman cease to hold office on such dissolution.

The Act provides for seamless continuity of ongoing work:

• All assets, liabilities and contracts of the dissolved MUDA devolve on the MDA.
• All prior actions, notifications, orders, schemes, bye-laws, permissions and commencement certificates issued by MUDA are deemed to have been issued by the MDA and continue in force unless superseded.
• All officers and employees of MUDA are transferred to and become officers/employees of the MDA on the same tenure, remuneration and terms and conditions of service.
• All suits, prosecutions and legal proceedings by or against MUDA may be continued by or against the MDA.
• Existing allotment rules — including the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities (Allotment of Sites) Rules, 1991; the (Allotment of Sites in lieu of Compensation for Land Acquired) Rules, 2009; the (Disposal of Sites and Commercial Sites) Rules, 1991; the (Allotment of Civic Amenity Sites) Rules, 1991; and the (Incentive Scheme of Voluntary Surrender of Land) Rules, 1991 — continue in force until superseded under the new Act.

Legal Status and Jurisdiction

The MDA is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal. It has the power to acquire, hold and dispose of both moveable and immoveable property, to enter into contracts, and to sue or be sued in its own name.

The MDA is constituted for the Mysuru Local Planning Area and simultaneously functions as the Local Planning Authority for that area under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961 — a status that MUDA did not hold under its predecessor Act. Its territorial jurisdiction corresponds to the area over which MUDA had jurisdiction immediately before the MDA's constitution.

Composition

The Authority consists of the following members:

Members are appointed by the Government. Representatives of KUWSSB and electricity supply companies are nominated by their respective bodies. All first members are appointed by the Government.

Term of Office

The Chairman and other members hold office for a period of three years from the date of assumption of office, subject to the pleasure of the Government, and are eligible for re-appointment. An ex-officio Corporation representative's term ends when he ceases to be a councillor or when the Corporation is superseded.

Disqualifications

A person shall not be appointed or continue as a member if convicted of a moral turpitude offence, declared of unsound mind, is an undischarged insolvent, has been removed/dismissed from Government or Government-controlled corporation service, holds a share or interest in any contract with the Authority, ceases to be a councillor (in the case of an elected member), or is employed as paid legal practitioner on behalf of or against the Authority.

Removal

The Government shall remove a member who becomes subject to a disqualification, refuses to act or becomes incapable, absents from three consecutive meetings without leave, or whose continuance is detrimental to public interest.

Commissioner and Secretary

The Commissioner is appointed by the State Government from officers of the rank of the Indian Administrative Service or Senior Scale and above in the Karnataka Administrative Service. The Commissioner is the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer of the Authority. Key functions include carrying out resolutions of the Authority, conducting correspondence, operating accounts, implementing development schemes, and furnishing copies of proceedings to the Government. The Commissioner has all powers of a Secretary to the State Government under the Karnataka State Civil Services Rules in respect of Authority officers and employees.

If the Commissioner considers any resolution of the Authority to be contrary to law or prejudicial to the Authority's interest, he must, within fifteen days, refer the matter to the Government rather than implement it.

The Secretary is appointed from officers not below the rank of a Junior Scale officer of the Karnataka Administrative Service.

Objects and Powers

The primary object of the MDA is to promote and secure the development of the Mysuru Local Planning Area. For this purpose the Authority may:

• Acquire, hold, manage and dispose of moveable and immoveable property within or outside its jurisdiction.
• Carry out building, engineering and other operations.
• Do all things necessary or expedient for development and purposes incidental thereto.

Development Schemes

Preparation and Content

The Authority may draw up detailed development schemes for the Local Planning Area and undertake works for its development with the prior approval of the Government. Every development scheme must, within its area:

• Provide for acquisition of necessary land.
• Lay out and re-lay all land, including construction and reconstruction of buildings and formation or alteration of streets.
• Provide for drainage, water supply and electricity.
• Reserve not less than 15% of the total layout area for public parks and playgrounds.
• Reserve an additional area of not less than 10% of the total layout area for civic amenities.

Approval Process

Upon preparation, the Authority publishes a notification about the scheme and serves notice on affected property owners, giving thirty days for representations. The scheme is then submitted to the Government with plans, cost estimates, land acquisition statements and other particulars. The Government may sanction the scheme by order. Upon sanction, the Government publishes a gazette declaration that the land is required for a public purpose, which is conclusive evidence of that need.

Execution

The Authority must execute an approved scheme within five years of the gazette declaration, failing which the scheme lapses. Alterations to a sanctioned scheme may be made, but alterations increasing estimated cost by more than 5% require prior Government sanction.

Betterment Tax

Where the execution of a development scheme increases the market value of land within the scheme area (but not acquired for the scheme), the Authority is entitled to levy a betterment tax on the landowner. The tax is one-third of the increase in land value, calculated as the difference between the value of the land (clear of buildings) after the scheme's completion and its value before execution. Assessment is made by the Authority after a hearing. Disputed assessments are referred to the District Court.

Betterment tax may be paid in up to ten instalments. Default in payment entitles the Authority to recover dues through land revenue procedures or by public auction of the land. Where a scheme was recommended by and funded by the Corporation, betterment tax collected is credited to the Municipal Fund of the Corporation.

Property Tax

The Authority may levy property tax on lands or buildings within its jurisdiction at the same rates as the City Corporation of Mysuru. The provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976 apply mutatis mutandis to assessment and collection.

The Authority is also deemed a local authority for the levy and collection of health cess (Karnataka Health Cess Act, 1962), library cess (Karnataka Public Libraries Act, 1965), and beggary cess (Karnataka Prohibition of Beggary Act, 1975).

Land Acquisition

The Authority may acquire land by agreement with the prior approval of the Government. Compulsory acquisition is governed by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (Central Act 30 of 2013), under which the Authority is deemed to be the local authority concerned. After land vests in the Government, the Deputy Commissioner transfers it to the Authority upon payment of acquisition costs.

The Government may also transfer to the Authority any land belonging to the State Government, the Corporation, or a local authority, subject to conditions. Such transfer of Corporation or local authority land requires prior consultation.

Finance

Mysuru Development Authority Fund

The Mysuru Development Authority Fund is fed by:

• Rents, profits and sale proceeds of all lands, buildings and other property vested in the Authority.
• Borrowings sanctioned by the Government.
• Property tax collected under the Act.
• Government grants.
• Contributions from the Corporation or local authorities.
• Betterment tax and other dues recovered by the Authority.

All fines realised under the Act are also credited to this Fund.

Borrowing

The Authority may borrow, with prior Government sanction, by issuing debentures or through arrangements with banks. Debentures are signed by the Commissioner and one other member. The Government may guarantee repayment of principal and interest on loans and debentures.

Expenditure Controls

No sum may be expended unless included in a Government-sanctioned estimate. The Commissioner may incur unforeseen expenditure not exceeding ₹10,000 without prior sanction, subject to immediate reporting to the Government. Annual estimates are laid before the Authority by 1 February each year and submitted to the Government for sanction. Accounts are audited annually by a Government-appointed auditor, and audited accounts along with the auditor's report are laid before each House of the Karnataka State Legislature.

Mysuru Heritage Building Protection Commission

The Act empowers the Government to constitute a dedicated Mysuru Heritage Building Protection Commission for the MDA's Local Planning Area, consisting of a Chairman and members with expertise in visual arts or architecture, Indian history or archaeology, and environmental sciences.

The Commission's mandate is to make recommendations to the Government on:

• Restoration and conservation of urban design and the environment in development areas.
• Planning and development of future urban design and environment.
• Restoration and conservation of archaeological and historical sites and sites of high scenic beauty.
• Grants, concessions and modes of compensation for the acquisition of heritage assets.

The Government may, after considering the Commission's recommendations, issue binding directions to the Authority.

Relationship with Other Statutory Bodies

City Corporation of Mysuru

The MDA works alongside and consults the City Corporation of Mysuru on matters such as the formation of new extensions or layouts within Corporation limits. Streets formed by the Authority eventually vest in and are maintained by the Corporation after the Government declares them public streets. Open spaces and parks also vest in the Corporation on completion.

Karnataka Housing Board

The Karnataka Housing Board established under the Karnataka Housing Board Act, 1962 is prohibited from undertaking any new housing scheme within the Mysuru Local Planning Area except in conformity with the MDA's layout plan. Schemes already commenced before the Act's commencement may be completed as planned.

Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board / Electricity Supply Companies

The Authority may issue binding directions to KUWSSB, electricity supply companies and other bodies connected with developmental activities. If directions are not complied with, the Authority may take necessary action and recover expenses from the concerned body.

Layout Regulations

No person may form or attempt to form any extension or layout for constructing buildings without the express written sanction of the Authority. Applications must include plans showing street layout, levels, widths, building line, and arrangements for levelling, paving, drainage, water supply and lighting.

The Authority may require the applicant to deposit sums for road, drainage, water supply, and lighting works, and may also require contributions for augmenting water supply, electricity, roads, transportation and amenities across the Local Planning Area. The applicant must agree to transfer ownership of roads, drains, water supply mains, parks, playgrounds and open spaces to the local authority, and civic amenity sites to the Authority, permanently without compensation.

The Authority must act on layout applications within three months of receipt.

Enforcement and Penalties

• Unauthorised occupation of MDA land is punishable with imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to ₹5,000; continuing occupation after first conviction attracts a further fine of up to ₹50 per acre per day.
• Contraventions of the Act, rules, regulations, bye-laws or schemes are punishable with a fine up to ₹25, and a continuing fine of up to ₹5 per day.
• No prosecution may be instituted without the prior sanction of the Authority.
• No court below that of a First Class Magistrate shall try any offence under the Act.
• Every member, officer and employee of the Authority is deemed a public servant under Section 2 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Rule-Making and Delegated Legislation

The Government may make Rules under the Act. The Authority may, with prior Government approval, make Regulations (on matters such as meetings, contracts, recruitment and service conditions). The Authority may also, with Government approval, make Bye-Laws (on management of houses under schemes, construction regulation, and layout standards). All regulations and bye-laws are published in the Official Gazette; bye-laws are additionally published in at least two English and Kannada newspapers with large circulation in the Mysuru Local Planning Area.

Dissolution

The Authority may be dissolved by Government notification only after a resolution to that effect has been passed by both Houses of the Karnataka State Legislature. On dissolution, all properties, funds and dues vest in the Government, which also assumes the Authority's enforceable liabilities.

See also

• Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike
• Mysuru City Corporation
• Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013

External links

• — Karnataka Act No. 39 of 2025, Gazette Extraordinary, 14 May 2025
• (archived)