Supreme Court Seeks IIT Roorkee Report On Preservation Of Mysuru's Devaraja Market And Lansdowne Heritage Buildings

The Supreme Court has directed the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to examine whether the 19th-century Devaraja Market Building and Lansdowne Buildings in Mysuru can be preserved through repairs or renovation. The report is to be filed in a sealed cover.A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Sandeep Mehta passed the order while hearing a plea challenging the Karnataka authorities' decision to demolish the heritage structures and reconstruct them with the same façade.Taking note of the report by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) that preservation is possible with renovation and repairs, the Court observed, “Prima facie, if it is possible to preserve the two structures as they are with some repairs/renovation then they should be preserved.” The Bench added, “Although there is one report of INTACH as an expert body, we would still like to call for one other report from IIT Roorkee.”The petition, filed by senior journalist G. Satyanarayana Gouri, challenges the Karnataka High Court's August 8, 2023 order dismissing his plea to prevent demolition of the heritage buildings as part of a redevelopment project.On December 4, 2024, the Supreme Court had impleaded the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and INTACH in the matter.During that hearing, the Court noted that the structures were not colonial-era buildings but belonged to the princely State of Mysuru and observed that an attempt must be made to restore them.Senior Advocate Dr. Aditya Sondhi, appearing for the petitioner, had argued that the structures were declared heritage buildings under Section 2(1ea) of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961, and referred to a UNESCO Committee report that supported restoration.The Bench had pointed out concerns about cost and long-term viability, observing that restoration might come with a heavy price and may only extend the buildings' life by 30-40 years. It also noted that a portion of the Lansdowne Building had collapsed after partial restoration, raising doubts about feasibility.The Court will now hear the petition once IIT Roorkee submits the report.Case no. – SLP(C) No. 26848/2023Case Title – G. Satyanarayana Gouri Satya v. State of KarnatakaClick Here To Read/Download Order

Supreme Court Seeks IIT Roorkee Report On Preservation Of Mysuru's Devaraja Market And Lansdowne Heritage Buildings

Amisha Shrivastava

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