Bengaluru:A Division bench of the Karnataka High Court on Friday allowed for Ganeshotsav to take place in the Chamarajpet Idgah playground later in August. The order was passed by the bench hearing a plea filed by Chamarajpet Citizens' Union against an earlier order passed by a single-judge bench of the HC the previous day. In its interim order passed on Thursday, the court had said that the venue was to be used only as a playground and for offering of prayers during Ramzan and Bakrid.
This was followed up by the state government today, as it approached the division bench - headed by acting Chief Justice Alok Aradhe - with the latter observing that the land could be used for religious and cultural usage.
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"The Indian society comprises religious, linguistic, regional or sectional diversities. The Constitution of India itself fosters brotherhood amongst various sections. The principal of religious toleration is the characteristic of Indian civilisation.
We, therefore, at this stage, in the peculiar facts of the case, modify the interim order dated August 25, 2008 and permit the government to consider and pass appropriate orders on the applications received by the Deputy Commissioner seeking use of the land in question for holding religious and cultural activities for a limited period from August 31, 2022 onwards," the bench said.
The next hearing in the case will be taking place on September 9. The decades-old dispute surrounding the maidan came to the fore yet again on Thursday, when the Karnataka State Board of AUQAF and the District Waqf Officer, Bengaluru, challenged an August 7 order by the BBMP Joint Commissioner (West), who had ruled that the venue belonged to the state Revenue Department. (with Agency inputs)
