Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jan 6: The state High Court has instructed the government to ensure that the mosque and graveyard at Sri Guru Dattatreya Baba Budangiri Darga (Datta Peetha) are not adversely affected during the execution of renovation works there. This instruction was issued on Wednesday January 5.

This order was issued while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Karnataka Wakf Protection Joint Action Committee, seeking dismissal of the government order relating to the cave renovation, issued on August 12, 2009.  The petitioner had alleged that the renovation work estimating to cost Rs 2.09 crore, for which administrative sanction has been given, proposes installation of over 52 pillars to the entire length and breadth of the cave, and that this is an attempt to break the cave.

The petitioner had also sought repairs if any to be conducted without causing any damage to the mosque, and to call for national and global tenders for the works concerned. Advocate for the government argued that the petitioner’s allegations were baseless, and that the work being taken up is a partial renovation and that the cave or other existing structures are not being damaged. The division bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar, and Justice A S Bopanna, disposed off the petition, relying on the assurance of the government advocate.