Mysuru/Bengaluru: This news could not have come at a better time for those who love to watch the magnificent Durbar Hall of the iconic Mysore Palace in its full splendour. With just hours to go for the spectacular nine-day Dasara festival, the Karnataka High Court has yesterday ordered issuance of notice to the State Government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought directives to the State to complete the gold-leafing work at the Mysore Palace.

With the High Court notice, will the government resume the long-pending gold-leafing works is a question that has to be answered by those in the higher echelons of power.    

The PIL was filed by K. Basavaraje Urs, a resident of Kuvempunagar in Mysuru and he has sought speedy completion of works as per the proposal made in 2014. The works were initiated by Artist Ganjifa Raghupathi Bhat of Ganjifa painting fame, a National Award winner.

Hearing the PIL, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Director of Tourism and Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru.

Basavaraje Urs alleged that there was total inaction on part of the authorities in carrying out the gold-leafing work, a project with an estimated cost of  Rs. 4.98 crore. He said the work started in 2013 has not been completed due to a ‘false and frivolous’ complaint filed by a private person against Raghupathi Bhat.

In his complaint, one Javaraju had alleged that Raghupathi Bhat colluded with officials to illegally get exemption from the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act 1999 for the gold-leafing work. Later, a case was registered against Bhat and a few officials under the Prevention of Corruption Act by the Lokayukta Police.

Basavaraje Urs alleged that the majesty of the Palace has diminished because of the pending gold-leafing work and sought directions to complete the work within a time frame.

He claimed that the artist was not coming forward to carry out the work as he has been made an accused along with officials.

Sources told Star of Mysore that the government has to respond to the notice within a week. “The Bench observed that only 50 percent of the works have been completed. The Bench questioned the locus standi of the petitioner and asked the government whether he has the knowledge of gold-leafing,” sources said.

Noting that Ganjifa Raghupathi Bhat has won national and international accolades for his exclusive works, the Bench pulled up the Government and questioned how it could take up a case where the person who has filed it has absolutely no knowledge about the intricacies of gold-leafing.

‘I WELCOME HC NOTICE’

Speaking to SOM, Raghupathi Bhat said that he was hurt and was treated like an accused despite good work being done.

“I welcome the High Court observation and sadly, the damage has been done and that too, the complaint was lodged by people who have no knowledge about the work. The allegations have damaged my hard-earned image,” he said.

Revealing the extent of work that has been done, he said that work on over 50 pillars was remaining.

“It is all natural colours and in many cases we had to redo the pillars where works were completed by others. Despite this, my name has been dragged into it,” the artist rued and added that he was victimised by certain vested interests.