The Karnataka High Court issued notice to the state and central government on the petition regarding the plea on the 'illegal operation' of a Madrasa in the historical mosque that is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India in Srirangapatna town of Mandya district.

A bench of two justices, Chief Justice P.B. Varale and Justice Krishna S. Dixith on Wednesday passed the verdict on the petition by Abhishek Gowda, a resident of Kanakpura and issued notices to the respondents to file their objections and adjourned the hearing.

The division of bench issued notices to the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the Director-General of the Indian Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Department of Revenue of the government of Karnataka, and the District Commissioner of Mandya in Karnataka.

The petitioner in its PIL claimed that the Srirangapatna is a historical and tourist spot, and the Jumma Masjid in Srirangapatna, built during the rule of Tipu Sultan, has been declared a historical and ancient memorial, protected by the ASI. However, the Madrasa inside the Juma Masjid in Srirangapatna had damaged the original structure by constructing structural alterations, demolition of the compound, construction of toilets, and destruction of ancient carvings besides cooking and consumption of food daily.

According to the petition, approximately 50 to 60 students are staying and studying in the premises, where food is cooked. "All the above acts are illegal and a violation of Section 7, Rule 7 and 8 of the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act and Rules," he claimed.

The petitioner further submitted that the office bearers of Bajarang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad had requested the authorities concerned to take action in 2022 and also filed a police complaint but to no avail. In its reply to an RTI application filed by the petitioner seeking information on the Madrasa inside the mosque, the ASI said no permission was granted to run a Madrasa inside the protected site.

The petitioner has sought a court direction to the ASI to remove illegal structures in the mosque and shut the madrasa illegally operating in it. As there was no response to his pleas to the Archeological Survey of India, the state and central governments, the petitioner moved the court.