In a setback to the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed the state’s recent order mandating prior permission for private organisations to conduct activities on government premises and public spaces.
The state government had issued the directive on October 18, requiring all private organisations, associations, and groups to seek formal approval before holding events or programmes on government property.
While the order did not explicitly name the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), it was widely seen as being aimed at curbing the outfit’s route marches and similar public activities. The move stemmed from a Cabinet decision, reportedly influenced by a letter from Panchayat Raj and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging a ban on RSS programmes in public places.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had sharply criticised the government’s directive, alleging it was politically motivated and intended to restrict the RSS’s functioning in the state.
Granting interim relief, the High Court stayed the operation of the order, effectively allowing private organisations to continue their activities in public or government spaces without prior approval until the case is decided.
