- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:12220-DB WP No. 5340 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. N. V. ANJARIA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND WRIT PETITION NO. 5340 OF 2025 (GM-RES-PIL) BETWEEN: 1. SRI GOWTHAM R., S/O. C. V. RAMAMURTHY, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, R/AT GEETHA MANDIR ROAD, WARD NO.9, MALAPALLI, CHINTAMANI TOWN, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 563 125. 2. SRI GIRI N., S/O. NARAYANASWAMY S., AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, R/AT MANIGANAHALIL VILLAGE AND POST, SRINIVASAPURA TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT - 563 135. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI M.S. BYRE REDDY, ADVOCATE FOR SRI S.N. SAMEER, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE CHIEF SECRETARY GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, VIDHANASOUDHA, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY PRIMARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, M.S. BUILDING, Digitally signed by VALLI MARIMUTHU Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:12220-DB WP No. 5340 of 2025 AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560 001. 3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT, CHIKKABALLAPURA - 562 101. 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER CHIKKABALAPURA SUB-DIVISION, CHIKKABALLAPURA - 562 101. 5. THE TAHSILDAR CHINTAMANI TALUK, CHINTAMANI - 563 125. 6. THE DDPI, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT, CHIKKABALLAPURA - 562 101. 7. THE BLOCK EDUCATION OFFICER (BEO) CHINTAMANI BLOCK, CHINTAMANI - 563 125. 8. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 562 101. 9. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE CHINTAMANI TALUK, CHINTAMANI TOWN - 563 125. 10. THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE CHINTAMANI TOWN POLICE STATION, CHINTAMANI - 563 125. 11. THE COMMISSIONER CHINTAMANI TOWN MUNICIPALITY CHINTAMANI - 563 125. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R1 TO R10) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA AND UNDER RULE 14(1) OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE FOR PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION, 2018 PRAYING TO ISSUE WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO REMOVE/VACATE THE - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:12220-DB WP No. 5340 of 2025 HON'BLE Dr. B.R. AMBEDKAR STATUE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL, AT CHINTAMANI, FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN SLP No. 8519/2006 AND ETC,. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. JUSTICE N. V. ANJARIA and HON'BLE MR JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. JUSTICE N. V. ANJARIA) The grievance in this public interest petition was with regard to the statue of great Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar which was installed in the school premises. The case of the petitioners was that norms and regulations were not followed in installing the statue at the place concerned. 2. In course of hearing of the petition, it was given out by learned advocate Mr. M.S. Byre Reddy for the petitioner that statue was made of plaster of paris and it has been melted due to heat. He produced photograph of melted statue which is taken on record. This factum was not disputed by learned Additional Government Advocate Smt. Niloufer Akbar. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:12220-DB WP No. 5340 of 2025 3. Learned advocate for the petitioners, however, expressed apprehension that the respondents may again proceed to violate the norms. From the record, the court noticed that the office of the Commissioner, Municipal Administration Directorate has issued the circular dated 17.12.2012 dealing with the subject of installation of statues of dignitaries within the limits of Municipality Council/Municipality/Town, Panchayats, and naming/re-naming of streets, cross roads, circles, layouts, etc,. 4. In the facts and circumstances, the present public interest proceedings are not entertained except by observing that the authorities in all cases, of the nature shall observe and follow what is contemplated in the circular and act in accordance with law. 5. Accordingly, the petition is dismissed as not entertained. Sd/- (N. V. ANJARIA) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (K. V. ARAVIND) JUDGE DDU List No.: 1 Sl No.: 7