HC notice to Centre, Karnataka government over madrasa in ASI protected mosque

The petitioner has sought an order from the court directing the ASI to remove illegal structures in the mosque and close down the madrasa operating there illegally | Photo: Wikipedia

The Karnataka High Court has ordered issuance of notices to the state and central governments on a PIL petition alleging that a Madrasa was being illegally run on the premises of an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected mosque at Srirangapatna in the Mandya District.

A division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit on Wednesday heard Abishek Gowda’s petition and issued notices to the respondents to file their objections and adjourned the hearing.

The petitioner alleged that the Madrasa at Juma Masjid in Srirangapatna had damaged the original structure through construction of structural changes, demolition of buildings, construction of toilets, destruction of old carvings, besides cooking and daily consumption of food.

“All the above acts are completely illegal and a violation of Section 7, Rules 7 and 8 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act and Rules,” he alleged.

The petitioner further submitted that the office bearers of Bajarang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad had requested the authorities concerned to take action in this regard by 2022 and had also filed a police complaint, but to no avail.

In its response to an RTI application filed by the petitioner seeking information about the Madrasa in the mosque, the ASI said no permission had been granted to operate a Madrasa in the protected area.

The petitioner has sought an order from the court directing the ASI to remove illegal structures in the mosque and close down the madrasa operating there illegally.

Since there was no response to his pleas to the Archaeological Survey of India, the state and the central governments, the petitioner moved the court.

First print: January 18, 2024 | 11:03 am IST