HC pauses K’taka order on big gatherings

The Karnataka high court on Tuesday stopped the state government from enforcing its controversial order restricting gatherings of more than ten people in public or government-owned spaces, including parks, playgrounds, or roads that was widely believed to be targeted at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

- Ayesha Arvind

Justice M Nagaprasanna of the Dharawad bench of the High Court, said the government order was "prima facie, a clear violation of citizens' fundamental rights" guaranteed under the Constitution and thus, could not be allowed to continue to operate, adding that the state government was perhaps "trying to achieve something else" through its order.

The state government has already said it will challenge the stay. The Court was hearing a petition filed by a Hubballi based NGO, Punashchetana Seva Samsthe, seeking that the government order be declared illegal and quashed. The court proceedings come amid an ongoing dispute between the state's Congress government and the RSS over permissions for the latter's annual route marches.