Bangalore : The high court on Friday refused to pass an interim stay on shifting of the Dr BR Ambedkar statue in front of Vidhana Soudha for facilitating speedy work on Namma Metro.

“We are not staying it. Let the government have its say,” a vacation division bench headed by Justice H Billappa observed while ordering notice to the state government and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC).

Several dalit leaders and organizations, led by Mavalli Shankar, state chief convener of Karnataka Dalit Sangarsha Samithi, have jointly filed this plea.

The court dispensed with issuing a notice to advocate AV Amarnathan, who had earlier filed a PIL on the issue, as the counsel for petitioners said there is no need for it.

During the brief hearing, the petitioners’ counsel told court that there was no need for shifting the statue from the precincts of Vidhana Soudha. The government advocate informed the court that the shifting was in terms of the high court order.

Petitioners claimed that the laying out of Metro line along Ambedkar Veedhi and in front of two seats of executive, legislature and judiciary is ‘injurious to public’ and ambience.

“The existence of these buildings is being endangered by the excavation and use of explosives by BMRC,” the petitioners stated. They sought for “setting aside” the December 12 order passed by a division bench headed by the then Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and also for de novo (fresh) hearing of the petition by providing them an opportunity to present their case.

The division bench had directed state government to remove the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar within 15 days and relocate it temporarily at a proper place in the vicinity of Vidhana Soudha. The bench had also observed that reinstalling the statue at a suitable place was left to the state government.

Discussions are still on.

The social welfare department is still discussing the issue with various backward communities and dalit groups.

E Venkataiah, principal secretary of department, told TOI on Friday that no decision had been taken yet. “The matter is very sensitive and we are discussing it with all associations and groups. Discussions are based on the high court’s order to shift the statue and the government is examining the order,” he said.

He also claimed the department had not been informed by Bangalore Metro about Helen burrowing out of the ground at Vidhana Soudha underground Metro station. -Times of India