Click the Play button to listen to article

The Karnataka High Court has directed the State Government to consider a representation seeking reconstruction and reinstallation of the Lord Parashurama statue at the Parashurama Theme Park in Karkala, Udupi district.

Disposing of a PIL filed by Uday Shetty Muniyal, a Division Bench of Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice T.P. Vivekananda observed that the dispute was “purely factual” and that it was for the State Government to take a decision on the petitioner's representation.

“We can easily say it does not appear to be a PIL at all. You want this to be considered by the first respondent, that's all,” it orally remarked.

The Court thereafter recorded in its order, “Annexure-D is representation preferred by the petitioner before the first respondent [Department of Tourism]. Since the disputes are purely factual, it is for the first respondent to take decision.”

The Court directed that while considering the representation, the necessary parties, including the proposed sixth respondent, Nirmithi Kendra Udupi, be put on notice and heard.

During the hearing, the Bench questioned the petitioner about which authority had taken steps for construction of the statue and what material was available to establish that the initial installation had been ordered by the Deputy Commissioner.

The petitioner submitted that the Deputy Commissioner had indeed taken steps for construction and stated that certain documents which had not been produced before the Court could be placed on record.

The Bench also sought clarification regarding Annexure-C. The petitioner submitted that it related to an FIR registered against the artist who had sculpted the statue.

When the Court asked who had lodged the criminal complaint against the proposed seventh respondent, the sculptor, the petitioner clarified that the complainant was a different person and was not connected with him.

The petitioner had approached the High Court seeking a direction to the State Government to consider his representation for reconstruction and reinstallation of the Lord Parashurama statue at the theme park by issuing fresh tenders and engaging a reputed sculptor.

According to the plea, the 33-feet statue was installed at the theme park in 2023 but was subsequently found to be defective and removed by the authorities.

The petitioner alleged that the statue was supposed to be made of bronze but was instead constructed using brass. He further alleged that the sculptor had committed fraud in the process.

The petitioner submitted that around three years had passed since the statue was removed and that despite representations, no steps had been taken for its reconstruction and reinstallation.

The petitioner also invoked Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, contending that the issue affected the religious sentiments and cultural heritage associated with Lord Parashurama in the coastal Karnataka region.

Earlier, the Court had directed the petitioner seeking reconstruction of the statue to deposit Rs 5 lakh with the High Court Registry as a contribution.

Advocate Srikanth V.K. appeared for the petitioner.

Case Title: Uday Shetty Muniyal AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 22881/2025

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 366

Tags: