Karnataka HC Stays Order On Private Events In Public Spaces
The Karnataka High Court (Dharwad Bench) has issued an interim stay on a state-government order that required private or social organisations to obtain prior written permission before holding events on government premises or in designated public spaces. The order, issued by the Government of Karnataka, was seen as targeting gatherings by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) but the court suspended its operation until further hearings.
Government Order Details
The order mandated that any activity—such as meetings, cultural programmes, processions or rallies—by a private organisation in government-owned properties or public spaces must be cleared in advance by the relevant departmental head. It defined government properties to include schools, colleges, government-controlled grounds and public land. The regulation also stated that events with more than ten people required authorisation.
Court’s Intervention
The High Court held that the directive imposed blanket restrictions on fundamental rights of assembly and expression under the Constitution. The court pointed out that the government had not demonstrated why such sweeping restrictions were necessary and posted the matter for the next hearing on November 17, 2025. The interim stay means the order cannot be enforced until then.
Implications and Outlook
For organisations like the RSS and others that hold public gatherings, the stay brings immediate relief, allowing them to operate under existing norms. However, the government faces a legal challenge to the validity of the order itself. The outcome will set a precedent on how public spaces may be regulated and how states may control activities by private groups in them.
