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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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
