Thu Jan 09 16:04:25 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka High Court Condemns Inaction on Gulbarga Fort Encroachments
**Bengaluru, January 9, 2025** – The Karnataka High Court has sharply criticized state authorities for their failure to remove illegal constructions within the Gulbarga Fort, a national monument in Kalaburagi. The court deemed the authorities’ conduct “contemptuous,” noting that despite a 2019 order mandating the demolition of 282 identified encroachments, no action has been taken.
The court’s rebuke comes in response to a 2018 public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Sharan Desai. The court highlighted the incomprehensibility of the authorities assigning house numbers to the encroachers. The Regional Commissioner of Kalaburagi has been directed to submit a personal affidavit explaining the five-year delay in complying with the 2019 order and the failure to file a compliance report.
While a six-month extension was granted in March 2020 to relocate the families involved, the court noted that neither relocation nor demolition had occurred. The Bench ordered a new survey to identify current occupants and the nature of their illegal structures, demanding a concrete plan for encroachment removal. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has also been instructed to provide an affidavit detailing its efforts to protect the monument. The court’s strong stance underscores the urgent need to preserve the historical significance of the Gulbarga Fort.
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