Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 06-08-2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Petitioners G. Satyanarayana @ Gouri Satya & Anr. vs. The State of Karnataka & Others.
  • Nature of Proceeding: Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No. 26848/2023 arising from the High Court of Karnataka judgment dated 08-08-2023.
  • Background: The Court previously ordered protection, renovation, and restoration of Devaraja Market and the Lansdowne Building in Mysuru, directing the preparation of a comprehensive plan (Order dated 04/05/2026, paragraph 4). Subsequent orders (30/07/2026) reiterated that Respondent Nos. 2 (Mysuru City Corporation) and 3 must proceed with the plan.
  • Reports Considered:
  • INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage) report (Respondent No. 6) concluded the structures are prima facie restorable, subject to a further comprehensive analysis at the time of work initiation.
  • IIT Roorkee report (Respondent No. 7) echoed the same view, emphasizing the need for a detailed scientific evaluation and a conservation plan, noting that severely deteriorated elements may require reconstruction.
  • Affidavit: Submitted by Smt. M.K. Savitha, Commissioner, Mysuru City Corporation, affirming compliance with the Court’s directions and detailing steps taken.
  • Key Steps Detailed in Affidavit:

1. Letter dated 07/07/2026 to the Commissioner, Mysuru Development Authority requesting preparation of a comprehensive action plan.

2. Letter dated 08/07/2026 to the Deputy Commissioner, Mysuru District, seeking a meeting on renovation and restoration.

3. Heritage Committee meeting held on 13/07/2026 at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, deciding to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR).

4. Tender Notification No. 33/2026-27 published on Karnataka Public Procurement Portal on 18/07/2026, inviting Expression of Interest (EOI) from eligible consultancy firms.

5. Public announcement on 23/07/2026 stating bid submission deadline of 03/08/2026, later extended by eight days on public request; bids scheduled to be opened on 04/08/2026.

Objectives of the Expression of Interest (EOI)

1. Conduct comprehensive historical, architectural, structural, geotechnical, and material assessment using scientific methods.

2. Document existing conditions, including architectural features, heritage elements, structural distress, material deterioration, foundation condition, and service infrastructure.

3. Determine structural stability, safety, durability, and remaining service life through Non‑Destructive Testing, semi‑destructive testing, laboratory investigations, geotechnical studies, and engineering analysis.

4. Identify causes of distress, deterioration, settlement, weathering, moisture ingress, material decay, and other defects.

5. Assess historical, architectural, cultural, and heritage significance; identify original construction materials, traditional techniques, and significant heritage features for preservation.

6. Recommend appropriate conservation, restoration, rehabilitation, retrofitting, strengthening, and repair methodologies while preserving architectural authenticity.

7. Evaluate alternative restoration and rehabilitation options for technical feasibility, heritage impact, implementation methodology, risks, sustainability, lifecycle performance, and cost implications; recommend the most appropriate solution.

8. Prepare a technically sound and financially viable DPR comprising architectural drawings, structural designs, restoration proposals, conservation methodologies, technical specifications, Bill of Quantities, cost estimates, tender drawings, implementation strategy, construction sequencing, quality assurance measures, and operation‑and‑maintenance guidelines.

9. Ensure proposed measures comply with the National Building Code, relevant Indian Standards, Karnataka Public Works Department specifications, heritage conservation guidelines, and other statutory requirements.

10. Provide Mysuru City Corporation with a complete set of technical documents required for statutory approvals, tender invitation, execution of restoration works, and long‑term preservation and sustainable management of the heritage assets.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court re‑affirmed its view that both Devaraja Market and the Lansdowne Building should be preserved and directed Mysuru City Corporation to prepare a comprehensive Detailed Project Report in line with INTACH and IIT Roorkee recommendations.
  • The Court approved the issuance of Tender Notification No. 33/2026‑27 for the selection of a multidisciplinary consultancy to prepare the DPR, with the bidding process already underway and deadlines extended as per public request.
  • The affidavit filed by the Commissioner confirms that all procedural steps—letters, committee meeting, tender publication, and public announcement—have been undertaken, thereby satisfying the Court’s directives.
  • The litigation is closed, with liberty reserved for parties to approach the Court in case of any difficulty, and any pending applications are deemed disposed of.

Topics: Heritage Restoration, Court Orders