Karnataka HC Halts Government's Directive on Private Activities

The Karnataka High Court has temporarily halted the state government's order requiring private organizations to seek permission for activities on public property. The court's decision is seen as a setback for the Congress-led administration, as the directive appeared to target RSS events. The opposition BJP criticized the move as anti-RSS.

In a significant development, the Karnataka High Court has put a temporary hold on the Siddaramaiah-led state government's recent order mandating prior approval from private organizations wishing to conduct activities on government property.

The order, issued on October 18, stipulated that private groups, associations, and organizations must seek permission before using public spaces, which many believe was aimed at regulating the events of the Hindu right-wing organization, RSS, including its well-known route marches.

The directive had followed a Cabinet decision motivated by a letter from Panchayat Raj and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, seeking to curb RSS activities in public spaces. The opposition BJP alleged that the order was an attempt to suppress the RSS.

(With inputs from agencies.)