Setback for Karnataka, High Court halts order seen as targeting RSS activities
Setback for Karnataka, High Court halts order seen as targeting RSS activities
M.U.H
28/10/202527
In a major setback to the Karnataka Congress government, the Dharwad Bench of the High Court has stayed its order mandating private organisations to obtain prior permission before holding activities in government premises.
The single-judge bench of Justice Nagaprasanna passed an interim stay on the government’s directive and posted the matter for further hearing on November 17.
Senior advocate Ashok Haranahalli, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the order amounted to a restriction on citizens’ fundamental rights.
“The government has ordered that permission should be obtained for gatherings of more than ten people. This is a restriction on the fundamental right provided for in the Constitution. Even if a party is held in a park, it is an illegal gathering as per government order,” Haranahalli said during the hearing.
The order, which many viewed as aimed at restricting RSS-related activities, will now remain on hold until the next hearing.
The petition challenging the government’s directive was filed by Punashchaitanya Seva Samsthe, which argued that the move infringed upon the rights of private organisations to conduct lawful activities.
The now-stayed Government Order (GO), issued earlier this month, had laid out detailed guidelines on how public and government-owned properties could be used.
It stated that no private or social organisation could hold events, meetings, or cultural programmes in government schools, college grounds, or other institutional spaces without written permission from the respective heads of departments.
It also directed district administrations to monitor compliance and act against any violations under the Karnataka Land Revenue and Education Acts.
Earlier, Karnataka Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil had clarified that the government’s move was not targeted at any particular organisation.
“There’s nothing specific about this organisation or that organisation,” he said. “Government or institutional properties will be used only with proper permission and for the right purpose. Any violation will be dealt with under existing laws.”
Reacting to the court’s decision, State BJP President BY Vijayendra said, “It’s a big setback for the Siddaramaiah government. Priyank Kharge, from the last couple of weeks, was discussing banning RSS and all these issues. Probably with this High Court judgment, the state government has to shut its mouth because today justice has prevailed.”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state government will appeal the Dharwad Bench’s interim order before a division bench of the High Court.
