The Supreme Court has directed the Karnataka Government to take into account the recommendations made by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee while carrying out restoration work on Mysuru’s historic Devaraja Market and Lansdowne Building.
A Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran recorded the State Government’s submission that it had decided against demolishing the two heritage structures and would instead undertake their restoration. The Court was also informed that the State had initiated the process of inviting expressions of interest for the restoration project.
In view of the State’s decision, the Bench directed the authorities to examine the recommendations contained in the reports prepared by INTACH and IIT Roorkee and consider them during the execution of the conservation exercise.
The matter arises from a special leave petition challenging a Karnataka High Court order that had declined to interfere with the proposed demolition and reconstruction of the Devaraja Market and Lansdowne Building. The petitioner had argued that both structures possess significant historical and architectural value and should be preserved through scientific restoration rather than demolished.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court had repeatedly emphasised the need to protect the heritage structures. It had earlier observed that the buildings qualify as heritage properties under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961, and that every effort should be made to conserve them if restoration was technically feasible.
Pursuant to the Court’s directions, INTACH conducted a structural assessment and concluded that both buildings could be restored without compromising their heritage character. The apex court subsequently sought an independent evaluation from IIT Roorkee, which broadly concurred with INTACH’s findings and recommended conservation through appropriate structural rehabilitation measures.
Earlier this year, the Court had relied on the IIT Roorkee report to underscore the importance of preserving the two structures and had directed the State to formulate a comprehensive restoration plan. Recording the Karnataka Government’s latest decision to proceed with conservation instead of demolition, the Court reiterated that the expert recommendations submitted by INTACH and IIT Roorkee should be duly considered while implementing the restoration project.
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