Permission granted for RSS route march at Chittapur on November 16: State to Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka government on Thursday informed the High Court that it has granted permission to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct a route march in Chittapur on November 16 subject to a cap of 300 on the maximum number of participants [ Ashok Patil V Deputy Commissioner and ors].

The submission was made by Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty before Justice MGM Kamal who was hearing a plea moved by RSS Kalaburagi District Convenor Ashok Patil (petitioner) seeking permission for the march.

The Court took the submission on record and disposed of the plea.

The RSS had initially planned to hold its march to commemorate its 100th anniversary on October 19 in Kalaburgi's Chittapur.

The petitioner had submitted applications to Municipal Officer and Police Inspector on October 13 seeking permission for the route march but received no response. Later, written intimation was given to the Tahsildar and Executive Magistrate which also went unanswered.

On October 18, the Taluk Magistrate issued an endorsement raising twelve queries regarding the event to which the petitioner responded.

The Magistrate then declined permission, stating that other groups Bhim Army and Bharatiya Dalit Panthers had also sought to hold rallies at the same time and place, which could lead to law and order concerns.

The petitioner then approached the High Court seeking direction to the authorities to grant permission for the route march (Padasanchalana).

After the Court urgently heard the matter on October 19, the RSS proposed that it could hold the march on November 2 instead.

However, in the ensuing hearing on October 24, the State suggested that the march should be postponed further because of law and order risks.

The RSS, in turn, accused the State of enabling rival organisations to obstruct its march by entertaining applications to hold other rallies on the same date.

The Court eventually asked both RSS and State authorities to hold a peace talk and arrive at an amicable solution.

After initial talks failed, subsequent meetings bore fruit with the State granting permission for the march on November 16.

Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam, appearing for the petitioner, appreciated the State's efforts but sought an increase in the number of participants in the parade as a one-time measure.

The Advocate General told the bench that the number of 300 members and 25 musicians for the march was fixed after taking into account the number of participants in the previous meetings held by the petitioner in the areas near the venue where the parade was to be held.

The Court then disposed of the plea.