Petition seeks to stop illegal constructions around Kempegowda tower

The High Court of Karnataka has directed four residents of Nanjamba Agrahara, Chamarajpet, to produce a government notification that prohibits all structures within a 200-metre radius of the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Gopuram (tower).

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Krishna Dixit, was hearing a petition filed by SR Kiran Kumar and four other petitioners, all from Nanjamba Agrahara. They had moved the court seeking directions to the BBMP commissioner to stop illegal construction around the gopuram (tower). They said there was a threat to the tower from the illegal activities carried out in its vicinity.

According to the petitioners, the tower is an ancient monument, situated at Nanjamba Agrahara. They contended that according to the notification issued by the government under the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1961, nobody shall put up any construction within a radius of 200 metres from the historical monuments.

The petitioner contended that the BBMP wants to dig the area around the tower to construct buildings, which is prohibited in the notification.

The petitioners raised an objection, which was not considered by the BBMP that went ahead with the illegal construction activities.

The petitioner sought two weeks time to produce the said notification.

The matter was adjourned for two weeks.