HC gives permission for Rajyotsava celebrations at Eidgah ground

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Disposing of a petition challenging the district authorities not permitting to celebrate the Karnataka Rajyotsava at the Eidgah grounds in Chamrajpet, the High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday directed the granting of permission with some riders.

The organisation seeking permission was directed not to disturb communal harmony and in turn the counsel for the petitioner submitted that only the Karnataka flag would be hoisted and not religious flags associated with any organisation.

The HC also said that if there are any legal hurdles to providing permission in the said ground, the authorities would provide an alternate ground for the same.

“In case there is any impediment including legal impediment for utilizing this ground to celebrate Rajyotsava day, the District Administration will provide alternate ground, accommodation to the petitioner-organisation to celebrate Karnataka Rajyotsava on the scheduled dates 1st to 3rd November,” the Division Bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit said in their order.

The Chamrajpet Nagarikara Okkuta had approached HC stating that their representation to the Deputy Commissioner made on October 17 to conduct Karnataka Rajyotsava from November 1 to November 3 was rejected.

Claiming that earlier permission to the citizens were given to celebrate Ayudha Pooja, Shivaratri and other festivals were granted and permission to celebrate Rajyotsava should also be granted, the organisation approached the HC.

The DC had rejected the permission on ground that the Supreme Court has ordered to maintain status quo on the ground. The HC which heard the advocate for the petitioners said that Rajyotsava was a day when the formation of the State was celebrated by members of religious communities and there should have been no objection to it.

The court was informed that permission was sought for Rajyotsava as well as Annamma Devi installation. The petitioner organisation gave an undertaking that only cultural programmes connected to Rajyotsava would be conducted only the Kannada flag would be hoisted and no other flag would be used.

The HC recorded these submissions and ordered for granting of permission for the celebrations. The HC cautioned that no statements or speech that would disturb communal harmony should be made during the celebrations.