Karnataka High Court issues notice on PIL claiming Jamia Masjid built on temple site
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the State Government, and other respondents in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging that the Jamia Masjid in Srirangapatna was constructed by Tipu Sultan on the site of the Moodala Bagilu Anjaneya Swamy Temple.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Arvind remarked that altering a protected monument through writ jurisdiction would be challenging. However, they issued notices to the respondents, with the matter returnable on July 11.
The PIL was filed by Bajrang Sene, an organization seeking directions for the ASI to conduct an archaeological study, survey, and excavation of the disputed Moodala Bagilu Anjaneya Swamy Temple site. They cited the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, requesting a status report.
According to the petitioner, the temple was partly demolished by Tipu Sultan, who then constructed the Jamia Masjid during his rule from 1786 to 1789. The petitioner argued that every Indian citizen has the right to practice their religion peacefully and asserted that the government has a constitutional duty to correct historical errors made by invaders.
The petition claims that the petitioner has gathered historical evidence showing that Tipu Sultan, driven by religious hatred, deliberately damaged and converted the Anjaneya Temple into the Jamia Masjid between 1786 and 1789. They referenced the Mysore State document of the Archaeological Survey of Mysore in its 1912 annual report (Volume IV) and the 1935 annual report from the University of Mysore's Archaeological Department to support their claims.
The petition also alleges that the mosque houses an illegal madrasa, violating the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The plea calls for the conservation and preservation of the visible Hindu heritage and cultural identities allegedly still present at the site, including structures like Garuda Kamba, Kalyani, Sthoopa, Sthamba, and stone carvings of Hindu deities.
Additionally, the plea seeks directions to remove the alleged illegal occupants of the madrasa and to secure the historical temple site fully in accordance with heritage site laws.
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Nine hospitalised after fire breaks out in residential building in Delhi
New Delhi (PTI): Nine people, including women and a minor girl, were hospitalised after suffering breathing-difficulties when a fire broke out in a four-storey residential building in Delhi's Shahdara area on Sunday, officials said.
According to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), a call regarding the blaze at D-45 in Mansarover Park was received at 12.03 am.
Three fire tenders and a water bowser were rushed to the spot. The fire had erupted in domestic articles kept in the parking area on the ground floor of the building, a senior fire official said.
During the rescue operation, DFS personnel evacuated nine people trapped on different floors of the building and shifted them to Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital after they complained of breathing difficulties caused by smoke inhalation.
The injured were identified as Vanshika (20), Tanishka Soni (19), Durgesh (49), Yogesh Verma (50), Raj Rani (65), Arun Garg (48), Ananya (12), Renu Garg (19), and Prateek Garg (19).
Officials said all the rescued persons were admitted to GTB Hospital and kept under observation.
The fire was later brought under control, officials said, adding that the exact cause the blaze is yet to be ascertained.
