The Karnataka High Court on Friday accepted the undertaking given by a youth association to shift the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, which was illegally erected on public land in Davanagere District, to an alternative land within four months..While accepting the undertaking given by Revanna Siddappa, President of Dr B R Ambedkar Youth Association, a division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice NS Sanjay Gowda said that the respondent has committed great illegality in the name of the great man."We must make a note that illegality was committed by respondent , in the name of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, who was not only architect and author of Constitution of India, but was a great human being. He believed in the Rule of law.".In fact, erecting an incomplete statue of the great man is equivalent to disrespecting him, said the Court. "Respondent 10 has shown disrespect to the great human being by committing illegality in his name. Moreover, respondent 10 has erected an incomplete statue of the great human being on public property.".Interestingly, Dr Ambedkar's historic speech delivered before the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949 also found a place in the Court's order. .The Court also noted that with the help of officers of the State govt and the active co-operation of the respondent 10, peace was maintained in village and no disruptions took place. .In November 2019, the youth association had erected a statue of Dr. Ambedkar on government land, adjacent to a bus stand without requisite permission. Certain villagers raised objections to this and a complaint was then submitted on the basis of which a resolution was passed by the Gram panchayat on March 5, 2020. .The resolution discussed the issue of the statute and it was decided that a proposal would be sent to respondent 9 (Panchayath Development Officer, Hiremegalagere Grama Panchayath, Davangere) about the relocation of the statute. By its order dated February 29, 2020, the Panchayat Development Officer ordered removal of the statue..Petitioner Neelappa O, along with others approached the court placing reliance on the order of the Panchayat development officer. By an order dated August 10, 2020, the Court directed Deputy Commissioner to appoint any officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner to look into the legality and validity of the act of erecting the statue. Accordingly, a report was submitted by the Assistant Commissioner on August 9, 2020..The report recorded that officer bearers of respondent 10 agreed that if private landowners come forward, they may be permitted to install the statue on the private property. The report also stated that the statue has been illegally erected on public land without seeking requisite permission. In November 2020, the Court had directed Deputy Commissioner of Bellari to hold a meeting with all stakeholders, to decide whether private land can be allotted. However, no private persons were willing to donate their land. .Further, an affidavit was filed on June 9, by respondent 10, affirmed by the President of the Association tendering an apology for illegal action on their part and pleaded that State government be kind enough to allot land for installing the statue. When the State government showed unwillingness to allot land for shifting the statute, time was granted under order dated July 21, to the Association to state whether they were willing to give an undertaking to shift the statue..On August 9, 2021, the authorized representative of the association filed an affidavit giving the undertaking to shift the statute to alternate land within four months from the date of the affidavit..Accordingly, the same was accepted by the Court and the matter was disposed of.
The Karnataka High Court on Friday accepted the undertaking given by a youth association to shift the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, which was illegally erected on public land in Davanagere District, to an alternative land within four months..While accepting the undertaking given by Revanna Siddappa, President of Dr B R Ambedkar Youth Association, a division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice NS Sanjay Gowda said that the respondent has committed great illegality in the name of the great man."We must make a note that illegality was committed by respondent , in the name of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, who was not only architect and author of Constitution of India, but was a great human being. He believed in the Rule of law.".In fact, erecting an incomplete statue of the great man is equivalent to disrespecting him, said the Court. "Respondent 10 has shown disrespect to the great human being by committing illegality in his name. Moreover, respondent 10 has erected an incomplete statue of the great human being on public property.".Interestingly, Dr Ambedkar's historic speech delivered before the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949 also found a place in the Court's order. .The Court also noted that with the help of officers of the State govt and the active co-operation of the respondent 10, peace was maintained in village and no disruptions took place. .In November 2019, the youth association had erected a statue of Dr. Ambedkar on government land, adjacent to a bus stand without requisite permission. Certain villagers raised objections to this and a complaint was then submitted on the basis of which a resolution was passed by the Gram panchayat on March 5, 2020. .The resolution discussed the issue of the statute and it was decided that a proposal would be sent to respondent 9 (Panchayath Development Officer, Hiremegalagere Grama Panchayath, Davangere) about the relocation of the statute. By its order dated February 29, 2020, the Panchayat Development Officer ordered removal of the statue..Petitioner Neelappa O, along with others approached the court placing reliance on the order of the Panchayat development officer. By an order dated August 10, 2020, the Court directed Deputy Commissioner to appoint any officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner to look into the legality and validity of the act of erecting the statue. Accordingly, a report was submitted by the Assistant Commissioner on August 9, 2020..The report recorded that officer bearers of respondent 10 agreed that if private landowners come forward, they may be permitted to install the statue on the private property. The report also stated that the statue has been illegally erected on public land without seeking requisite permission. In November 2020, the Court had directed Deputy Commissioner of Bellari to hold a meeting with all stakeholders, to decide whether private land can be allotted. However, no private persons were willing to donate their land. .Further, an affidavit was filed on June 9, by respondent 10, affirmed by the President of the Association tendering an apology for illegal action on their part and pleaded that State government be kind enough to allot land for installing the statue. When the State government showed unwillingness to allot land for shifting the statute, time was granted under order dated July 21, to the Association to state whether they were willing to give an undertaking to shift the statue..On August 9, 2021, the authorized representative of the association filed an affidavit giving the undertaking to shift the statute to alternate land within four months from the date of the affidavit..Accordingly, the same was accepted by the Court and the matter was disposed of.