Why is the BJP Celebrating the High Court Stay on K'taka Govt's Event Approval Order?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The High Court's stay halts the government's order requiring event approval.
- This ruling is seen as a win for constitutional rights.
- The decision has sparked political controversy in Karnataka.
- Judicial oversight is crucial for maintaining democratic principles.
- The outcome may influence future governance policies.
Bengaluru, Oct 28 (NationPress) The BJP's Karnataka unit has expressed its approval of the interim stay issued by the Dharwad Bench of the High Court on Tuesday regarding a recent directive from the Congress-led state government that required prior consent from authorities to organize events in public and state-owned locations.
Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, took to X to assert, “The state government’s scheme against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) contradicts the Constitution.”
Joshi further remarked, “The Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court has suspended the state government’s order that mandated private organizations to secure prior approval for hosting events in government sites. This action specifically targeted the operations of the RSS. This serves as a cautionary lesson to the Congress government, which enforces unconstitutional policies. The Congress administration must honor and uphold the foundational principles of the Constitution.”
BJP state president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, commenting on the situation in Bengaluru, stated: “The court has halted the conspiracy and devious tactics of the state government. This outcome is a blow to the Congress-led government in Karnataka and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.”
“Minister Priyank Kharge has been vocal in recent weeks about prohibiting the RSS and has raised various concerns related to the organization. Following this High Court ruling, the state government will be compelled to remain silent. Today’s ruling signifies that justice has prevailed,” he emphasized.
BJP MLC C.T. Ravi remarked that the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature are interlinked through the Constitution, which guarantees checks and balances.
“All three branches of democracy operate within the bounds of the Constitution. If any action contradicts it, it is the judiciary's responsibility to safeguard the fundamental rights of citizens. Today’s court decision has reinforced the Constitution,” he stated.
In a significant setback for the Congress-led government in Karnataka, the High Court’s Dharwad Bench issued an interim stay on Tuesday against the government order necessitating prior approval from authorities for conducting events in public and state-owned areas.
The government had recently enacted this order following a letter from Minister for RDPR, IT, and BT Priyank Kharge to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, advocating for a ban on RSS activities in public places and government-owned sites throughout the state. This move ignited a political controversy and heated exchanges between Congress and BJP figures.
The Bench, led by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, issued the interim order. The writ petition was submitted by Punaschetana Seva Samsthe, an NGO contesting the legality of the directive. The petition argued that the order—which designates gatherings of more than 10 individuals as illegal and demands prior approval for holding foot marches or public events—violates the Constitution.