The Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the State government on a public interest litigation concerning the reinstatement of a 33-feet statue of Lord Parashurama inside a theme park located in the Udupi district. The statue, which had been erected as part of the Parashurama Theme Park in Karkala, was taken down a few months after its inauguration. In response, the petitioner, Uday Shetty Muniyal, submitted a petition seeking an order for fresh tenders and engaging a reputable sculptor to reconstruct the statue. He further supported his plea by depositing ₹5 lakh with the High Court registry, as directed during an earlier hearing.
Muniyal’s petition alleges a serious breach of public trust and potential fraud in the statue’s construction. The statue was originally conceptualized and inaugurated as a bronze monument, funded with public money. However, it was later discovered to have been made with brass instead of bronze, sparking concerns about structural integrity and public safety. The upper portion of the statue was dismantled on October 12, 2023, and placed in storage, leaving the theme park incomplete and causing distress among devotees.
During the hearing, the court emphasized that Muniyal had complied with its prior direction regarding the deposit and had now fulfilled the requirement to proceed with the matter. Consequently, the court issued notice to the State government and scheduled the next hearing for December 10.
In his petition, Muniyal identified himself as a member of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, who also contested the state assembly elections in 2023. He underlined that the petition was filed to protect the religious sentiments and cultural heritage of hundreds of thousands of Hindus in coastal Karnataka, for whom Lord Parashurama is revered as the creator of the Parashurama Kshetra—a region that includes Tulu Nadu and Karavali. He argued that proper installation and maintenance of the statue constitute an essential religious expression and institutional neglect represents a failure to uphold devotees’ constitutional rights.
The court’s notice signals its readiness to examine whether the authorities ought to have acted to maintain the religious monument, particularly given the public funding and cultural significance involved. The petitioner’s deposit of ₹5 lakh and the court’s acceptance of the petition suggests judicial willingness to engage substantively with both the public-safety and religious-liberty dimensions of the matter.
At the next hearing, the court is expected to hear the State’s response to the allegations of fraud, structural compromise, and broader cultural ramifications. The outcome may determine whether the statue will be duly reconstructed, and also potentially establish a judicial precedent regarding accountability in public-funded cultural projects.
WhatsApp Group Invite
Join WhatsApp Community
0 Comments
Thank you for your response. It will help us to improve in the future.