PIL on conservation of Kempegowda’s fort: Karnataka HC issues notice to state government, ASI
Bengaluru: Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the state government as well as the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) related to the conservation of fort of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda situated in Magadi.
The petition, filed by Dr. HM Krishnamurthy of Magadi, who is the President of the Kempegowda Development Committee, was heard on Friday by the two-judge divisional bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha.
The bench issued notices to the Kannada and Culture Department, Bengaluru Archaeological Survey Department, Commissioner of the Archaeological Department, Deputy Director of the Department, Magadi Urban Development Authority, Magadi Town Development Council and Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner in relation to the fort conservation, before adjourning the petition.
Senior advocate DR Ravishankar, who represented the petitioner, said that the fort was built in the 17th century by Kempegowda, who was the chief commander in the army of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Commissioner of the Archaeological Department has submitted a report regarding the conservation of the fort. Pictures taken using drones have been presented to understand the condition of the fort. A 30-foot-tall wall has been constructed for conservation of the fort, but a part of the fort wall has been destroyed, nevertheless, the advocate added.
He also hit out at the government for not taking the initiative to work at conservation of the fort wall well before a PIL was filed by a citizen.
The petitioner has asked for conservation of Kempegowda’s fort, the moat of the fort and various sculptures, monuments and a temple constructed by Kempegowda in the fort. The moat has been closed in the east, west and north while in the south, the construction is half-closed by the K-Ship company for widening of the Bengaluru-Kunigal Road, he said.
The petitioner added that the Magadi TMC has permitted roadside vendors to set up stall on three of the moats, which has greatly affected the condition. Referring further to the stalls, Dr. Krishnamurthy has said that the vendors have defaced the wall by driving nails into it.
Maintenance of hygiene is a major problem in the fort, where people now not only answer nature’s calls but also consume liquor, he added.
Dr. Krishnamurthy urged the bench to issue notices to the concerned officials to take measures for the conservation of Kempegowda’s fort.
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Rahul Gandhi joins Haryana Congress leader's 'Sadbhav Yatra' in Gurugram
Gurugram (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday joined the 'Sadbhav Yatra' of Haryana Congress leader Brijendra Singh here.
Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, reached Gurugram in the evening and joined the yatra. He also walked some distance with Brijendra, state Congress chief Rao Narender Singh and other leaders.
Huge crowds had turned up for the occasion.
Later, Gandhi proceeded to the venue where he addressed a public gathering.
Leader of Opposition in Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other Congress leaders, including Randeep Singh Surjewala, B K Hariprasad, state Congress chief Rao Narender Singh, were also present.
Brijendra Singh had on Thursday said it is a matter of joy for them that Gandhi was joining the 'Sadbhav Yatra' in Gurugram-Badshahpur, "thereby strengthening the Indian National Congress' campaign for brotherhood and harmony".
The 'Sadbhav Yatra' began from Danoda village at Narwana in Jind on October 5, 2025, and has covered 85 of the 90 assembly segments in the state.
The foot march was started by Brijendra Singh, son of Congress veteran Birender Singh, to highlight several national and regional issues.
State Congress chief Rao Narender Singh had asked all party leaders to take part in Friday's event.
Days before his yatra began in October, Brijendra Singh, who narrowly lost the 2024 assembly polls from Jind's Uchana Kalan, accused the ruling BJP of playing "divisive politics" and said that "sadbhav" (harmony) has come under stress in the last decade.
Brijendra Singh was a sitting MP from Hisar for the BJP when he resigned ahead of the 2024 general election and switched over to the Congress. He also alleged that the saffron party creates a wedge in society to achieve its political purpose.
The 'padyatra' has so far covered 85 assembly constituencies in Haryana, traversing more than 2,700 kilometres.
Addressing the public gathering, Brijendra Singh said the yatra is inspired by Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, where he took the party's vision and values directly to the people of the country.
Singh said the yatra has highlighted issues like "Vote Chori" (vote theft), unemployment, poor law and order situation, agrarian distress, and issues related to government employees, labourers and traders.
"Sadbhav (harmony) and bhaichara (brotherhood), which the BJP is attempting to weaken, are the messages of this yatra," he said, adding that its slogan is "Congress ka haath bhaichara ka saath".
"This yatra is a natural extension of the Bharat Jodo Yatra," Brijendra Singh said.
