Bengaluru: “Love thy neighbour. (Civic) grievances ought not to become contests of ego in which neither side is willing to exercise restraint,” Karnataka high court has said, while hearing a case of neighbours’ fight over garbage disposal in common areas of an apartment complex in Bengaluru.
The cases stem from a case registered in 2024 between two couples residing in an apartment complex in Electronics City.
Refusing to quash criminal proceedings initiated against each other by two neighbouring couples, the court has said civility, tolerance, and a willingness to end differences without unnecessary confrontation were ingredients for peaceful coexistence among neighbours. Both sides approached the high court seeking to quash criminal cases registered against them at the Parappana Agrahara police station. The allegations include wrongful restraint, causing grievous hurt and criminal intimidation. The court acknowledged that disputes over garbage disposal, parking, noise and the use of common areas could cause genuine inconvenience.
“A disagreement lasting only a few minutes can, if allowed to escalate, create hostility that persists for years,” Justice Govindaraj observed. Reflecting on the unique relationship between neighbours, the judge pointed out that neighbours are not people one can easily choose to replace. They share common spaces, facilities and the affairs of the same community. Once allegations of criminal conduct are made and the criminal law is set in motion, the court observed, proceedings could result in conviction. Pointing to the medical records referring to injuries, including fractures sustained during the altercation, the court underlined the seriousness of the dispute.