SC rejects plea over Banu Dasara invite

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the Karnataka government's decision to invite Booker Prizewinning author Banu Mushtaq as the chief guest for the inauguration of the historic Dasara festival in Mysuru on September 22, stressing that India's constitutional framework celebrates multiculturalism and diversity.

- Utkarsh Anand

A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refused to interfere with the Karnataka high court's ruling earlier this week that had rejected similar petitions, including one filed by the present petitioner HS Gaurav.

“What is the Preamble of this country? This is not a personal event but a State event. Why should the state discriminate between its own people?” the bench told senior counsel PB Suresh, who appeared for Gaurav.

Suresh, on his part, had asserted that letting Mushtaq conduct the religious ceremonies would breach the constitutional rights to the freedom of religious practices of the Hindu community. While Mushtaq could inaugurate the event, Suresh added, she must not be allowed inside the temple, not only because she was a non-Hindu but also because she lacked secular credentials.

The bench, however, declined to entertain the plea, further pointing out that in 2017, poet Nisar Ahmed had been invited as chief guest for the same event. The court underscored that Dasara in Mysuru is a state festival (Naada Habba) and cannot be reduced to a purely religious ceremony.