The Karnataka High Court, in a special sitting held on Sunday, has issued a directive to the Kalaburagi district administration. They must provide a detailed report by October 24, outlining the steps taken to grant permission for a rescheduled Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route march, or ‘pathasanchalana,’ in Chittapur. The march is now planned for November 2, a change from the initial proposal for October 19.
Justice M.G.S. Kamala delivered this interim order following a petition filed by Ashok Patil, the convener of the RSS route march for Chittapur.
Patil’s petition challenged the legality of the Chittapur tahsildar’s decision on October 18, which denied permission for the original march. The tahsildar had cited potential law and order disturbances, as two other organizations—the Bhim Army and the Bharatiya Dalit Panthers—had also proposed rallies on the same day, at the same time and location as the RSS.
Initially, the tahsildar had sought more information regarding the October 19 march from the petitioner. However, permission was later denied upon receiving information about the other two planned rallies.
The petitioner had first approached the tahsildar on October 17, after an earlier request made on October 13 to the Chittapur civic body and the Circle Police Inspector for the march went unaddressed.
During the court hearing, Justice Kamala inquired whether the petitioner and his organization could conduct the event on an alternative date. Senior advocate Aruna Shyam, representing the petitioner, confirmed that November 2 would be suitable and requested the court to direct authorities to grant permission for this new date, based on the original request for October 19.
State Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty indicated that while the district administration could designate a specific location for the petitioner’s event, authorities would ultimately consider the request for the march. He also noted that judicial precedents often discourage public street processions due to potential disruptions.
The court formally acknowledged an assurance from the petitioner’s representatives: the RSS, having successfully conducted over 250 route marches without incident, commits to maintaining peace, tranquility, and harmony during its proposed Chittapur march.
The court further emphasized that a Supreme Court judgment, which upholds the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and free movement nationwide, also clarifies that the state’s power to impose reasonable restrictions for maintaining law and order does not permit arbitrary exclusion. The next hearing for this case has been scheduled for October 24.