Bengaluru, Oct 28 (NationPress) The Karnataka government has opted to appeal to a Division Bench of the High Court, contesting the interim stay placed on its directive that requires prior approval for hosting public events in public areas and government properties throughout the state.

The BJP has claimed that this ruling was enacted to limit the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) within Karnataka.

During a media briefing on Tuesday in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remarked that the Dharwad Bench of the High Court had issued a stay on the government’s order. “We will proceed with filing an appeal against this judgment,” CM Siddaramaiah declared.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed that the government intends to challenge the court’s ruling before the Division Bench. “The court has issued a stay order, and the Chief Minister has directed action on this. We will pursue an appeal before the Division Bench,” he stated.

When questioned if this ruling poses a setback for the government, Home Minister Parameshwara responded that it does not. “A judgment has been delivered, and we are appealing against it,” he clarified.

In a blow to the Congress-led government in Karnataka, the High Court’s Dharwad Bench issued an interim stay on the government’s order that mandated prior approval from authorities for organizing events in public and state-owned venues.

The order was recently implemented following a request from Minister for RDPR, IT and BT Priyank Kharge to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, advocating a ban on RSS activities in public and government spaces statewide. This issue has ignited a verbal clash between Congress and BJP officials.

The Bench, led by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, granted the interim order. A writ petition was filed by Punaschetana Seva Samsthe, an NGO, contesting the legality of the government’s order. The petition argued that the directive, which characterizes gatherings of over 10 individuals as illegal and demands permission for public events, is unconstitutional.

Senior counsel Ashok Harnalli, representing the petitioner, contended that the Home Department's order violates legal and constitutional rights. He emphasized that banning gatherings exceeding 10 people in public spaces is unlawful.

Furthermore, he stated that the order infringes upon the constitutional rights of citizens guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution. “It is clear from the outset that this order is unconstitutional,” he argued.

The Bench noted that the government's intentions behind such an order are unclear. The court also issued notices to both the Home Department and the state government.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s Karnataka faction welcomed the High Court’s interim stay, labeling it a validation of their stance against what they deemed an “unconstitutional action” by the Congress-led government to suppress the freedom of assembly.