Plea against memorial in Kanteerava Studio

An advocate tried to move an urgent petition as a PIL in the Karnataka High Court on Sunday requesting directions against proposed memorial for actor Ambareesh, who died on Saturday, on the premises of Kanteerava Studio.

Advocate R L N Murthy placed the petition in front of the high court’s Additional Registrar P N Desai at 3.30 pm through a special request. “Please consider this as a public interest litigation (PIL) and pass suitable orders,” he requested.

Responding to the request, Desai told the advocate to follow the procedure.

“The petition will come before the court as per the procedure. Submit your petition as per the rules of the court,” he said.

The petition says that Kanteerava Studio is not a memorial ground and should be used for the development of Kannada films and culture. Kanteerava Studio is not a burial ground for VIPs. Permitting memorials of actors will eventually turn it into a burial ground, the petition says.

Noting that he has no personal enmity with Ambareesh, the petitioner says the actor’s contribution to the Kannada cinema was indisputable. “But that should not make us lose balance and take a wrong step,” the petition says.