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Kalaburagi, October 19 (IANS) The Karnataka High Court on Sunday allowed the centenary march of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Chittapur city on November 2.
The court also directed the government to consider the plea while asking the event organizers to submit a fresh application and adjourned the matter to October 24.
The Kalaburagi bench of the High Court passed this order while hearing the petition on emergency grounds.
Ashok Patil, an RSS leader from Kalaburagi district, had filed the petition challenging the denial of permission by government authorities to hold the march in Chittapur despite submitting an application and completing the necessary procedures.
A bench headed by Justice MGS Kamal, while examining the petition, asked which authority is legally empowered to grant permission for such a march.
Senior advocate Arun Shyam, appearing for the petitioner, said the application was first submitted to the police on Monday and later to the executive magistrate on Friday. However, permission was refused on 19 October.
The bench further questioned whether permission was required for the march when it was not a protest. It also sought clarity on the legal provisions that mandate such permission. The petitioner’s counsel argued that there is no clear law governing this matter.
The counsel appearing for the government said that the permission was refused keeping in mind the law and order concerns, as other organizations like Bhim Army and Dalit Panthers had also sought permission to take out the procession.
The High Court directed the government to allot different times for the processions of different organizations. The court also recorded that the RSS has organized marches at 250 places across the state, without any untoward incident being reported.
The RSS has approached the Kalaburagi bench of the High Court challenging the Chittapur tehsildar’s order denying permission for its centenary procession in Chittapur town. The centenary march was scheduled for 19 October.
RDPR, IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge represents Chittapur constituency. He had recently demanded a ban on RSS activities, which had sparked controversy.
–IANS
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