New Delhi: Amidst growing communal tension Reasons for the decision of the Government of Karnataka to allow ganesh chaturthi festival At the disputed Idgah ground in Chamarajpet, Bengaluru, the Supreme Court late Tuesday night directed the parties to maintain status quo, meaning the grounds will not be used for the festival starting Wednesday.
Waqf Board and Municipal Corporation are fighting a legal battle over this plot and the state government has claimed it to be government land and the board has claimed it to be an Idgah.
A bench of Justices Indira Banerjee, AS Oka and MM Sundaresh passed the order in favor of the Waqf Board observing that the disputed land has not been used for such activity in the last 200 years.
Karnataka had approached the bench for permission to hold the festival and assured the court that no permanent structure would be built and the land would be vacated after two days. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, argued that people should have a comprehensive view of allowing such festivals in open ground. He assured the court that there would be no law and order problem in the city if the puja is allowed on the ground.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Dushyant Dave strongly opposed the suggestion and asked the bench not to rely on the assurance given by the government and reminded the court that the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh had also given assurance to the court to protect the Babri Masjid. .
Earlier in the evening, the Chief Justice had to constitute a three-judge bench to hear the matter as a division bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia had differences, and the lawyers reached out to the CJI to mention the matter. As the CJI was to rise at 4 pm, Sibal and Dave said the hearing in the matter cannot wait for Wednesday as it would be fruitless by then and requested them to constitute a three-judge bench. The CJI allowed his plea.
Waqf Board and Municipal Corporation are fighting a legal battle over this plot and the state government has claimed it to be government land and the board has claimed it to be an Idgah.
A bench of Justices Indira Banerjee, AS Oka and MM Sundaresh passed the order in favor of the Waqf Board observing that the disputed land has not been used for such activity in the last 200 years.
Karnataka had approached the bench for permission to hold the festival and assured the court that no permanent structure would be built and the land would be vacated after two days. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, argued that people should have a comprehensive view of allowing such festivals in open ground. He assured the court that there would be no law and order problem in the city if the puja is allowed on the ground.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Dushyant Dave strongly opposed the suggestion and asked the bench not to rely on the assurance given by the government and reminded the court that the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh had also given assurance to the court to protect the Babri Masjid. .
Earlier in the evening, the Chief Justice had to constitute a three-judge bench to hear the matter as a division bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia had differences, and the lawyers reached out to the CJI to mention the matter. As the CJI was to rise at 4 pm, Sibal and Dave said the hearing in the matter cannot wait for Wednesday as it would be fruitless by then and requested them to constitute a three-judge bench. The CJI allowed his plea.