A recent report reveals that 18,791 government schools in Karnataka lack proper land records, leaving them vulnerable to encroachment and hindering infrastructure upgrades. The state government is proposing a new Properties Protection Bill to register these schools under the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) for legal safeguarding.
The Karnataka government has acknowledged a critical gap in its education infrastructure: 18,791 government schools across the state do not have land records or revenue documents. This issue exposes schools to risks of encroachment and complicates efforts to secure grants or undertake development projects.
To address this, the government is introducing the Karnataka School Education Department Properties Protection Bill 2025, which will ensure that properties are registered under the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL).
Key Highlights
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Scale of Issue: 18,791 schools lack land records (17,356 primary and 1,435 high schools).
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District Impact: Shivamogga tops the list with 1,192 schools pending registration.
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Government Action: Proposed Properties Protection Bill to safeguard school lands.
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Ongoing Campaign: DSEL has been running a property protection drive for three years.
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Challenges: Lack of documentation hinders upgrades, grant access, and legal protection.
This legislative move is expected to provide long-term security for government schools, ensuring smoother infrastructure development and safeguarding public education assets.
Sources: The Hindu, Outlook India, Deccan Herald