The High Court of Karnataka on Friday ordered issue of notice to the State government on a PIL petition, which complained about neglect of authorities in protecting and maintaining Kempegowda Fort, built by city’s founder Kempegowda during 17th Century, at Magadi of Bengaluru South district.State-owned monumentThe fort and its moat are State-protected monuments under the provisions of the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1961, and are coming under the purview of the State’s Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha passed the order on the petition filed by H.M. Krishnamurthy, founder and president of Sri Kempegowda Abhivrudhi Samithi, Magadi taluk, Bengaluru South district.‘Total apathy’There has been a total apathy and negligence on the part of authorities in protecting and maintaining the fort and the moat, the petitioner complained, while pointing out that no action has been taken to maintain the monument despite several representations to the authorities, including the local administrations, and holding demonstrations.While several portions of fort are in a dilapidated condition, many areas of the fort and surrounding portions are used for dumping waste and for Sunday and sheep market, the petitioner complained, while also pointing out that some portion of the moat is being destroyed due to construction of road, which is nothing but a blatant onslaught on the legacy of Kempegowda and amounts to erasing the footprints of historical legacy.Direct authoritiesComplaining that failure to maintain the fort is threatening permanent damage to its structures, the petitioner has sought directions to the authorities to take immediate steps to protect and maintain the fort, removal encroachment of areas of the monument and constitute a committee of experts to oversea the conservation of the fort.Published - October 10, 2025 08:29 pm IST