In Brief
The appellants challenged demolition orders for their restaurants and guesthouses built in Virupapura Gaddi, a river island in the Hampi World Heritage Area. The Supreme Court held that the entire village was validly declared a 'protected area' under the 1961 Monuments Act based on its archaeological significance. Construction for commercial purposes violated Section 20(1) of the 1961 Act, which restricts non-cultivable use without State Government permission. The Court rejected the argument that the HWHAMA (a 2002 authority) lacked jurisdiction, finding the two statutes must be read harmoniously to fulfill their common heritage preservation objective. The appeal was dismissed and demolition ordered within one month."
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