The High Court of Karnataka on Monday ordered issue of notice to the State government on a PIL petition seeking direction to complete the gold leafing work in Mysuru palace as per the proposal made in 2014.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar passed the order on the petition filed by K. Basavaraje Urs, resident of Mysuru.
The gold leafing work was carried out in certain portions of the palace through an artist, Ganjeefa Raghupathi Bhat.
However, the work has not progressed following a “frivolous” complaint, which alleged violation of law in granting exemption from the provisions of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 1999 to carry out the work, and the alleged collusion amongst the officials and the artist.
The petitioner claimed that the artist was not coming forward to carry out the work as he has been made an accused along with officials in a case registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
He contended that the majesty of the palace was diminishing on a daily basis because of non-execution of the gold leafing work.
