SC refuses permission Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Chamrajpet Eidgah Maidan

The Karnataka Waqf Board filed a petition with the Supreme Court earlier on Tuesday, challenging the Karnataka High Court’s decision to allow the state government to consider using the Eidgah Maidan in Chamarajpet, Bengaluru, for religious events (primarily Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations) starting on August 31. The apex court refused to grant permission for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and ordered to maintain the status quo.

The decision was made by a three-judge panel made up of Justices Indira Banerjee, AS Oka, and MM Sundresh. As a result, there will be no Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations on Wednesday in the Eidgah Maidan in Chamarajpet, Bengaluru.

The Chamarajpet Idgah field here is essentially “public property,” and the legal battle over its ownership would continue in the courts, Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka said on Tuesday, after the Supreme Court refused to grant permission for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations there and ordered the status quo. He declared that the administration would follow the court’s ruling.

“People of Chamarajpet and Bengaluru were eager to celebrate Ganesha festival at the ground, but the Supreme Court has ordered status quo. We will fight legally in the courts, in the days to come,” Mr Ashoka said.

Currently, the state Revenue Department is in charge of the land.

The Chamarajpet Nagarikara Okkoota Vedike, a citizens’ forum that sought permission to hold the festival there, stated that it would follow the ruling but would pursue legal action to challenge the ownership of the land.

“After the Supreme Court order there is no question of installing Ganesh idol there (Eidgah ground), the government will also not allow it. Everyone has to obey the Supreme Court order,” Ramegowda of Chamarajpet Nagarikara Okkoota Vedike said.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court’s ruling is a positive one, said Moulana Shafi Saadi, chairman of the Karnataka State Board of Auqaf, who was speaking in New Delhi, as it prevents attempts to compromise Hindu-Muslim harmony over the Chamrajpet Eidgah ground issue.

“The Supreme Court has upheld the Places of Worship Act of 1991 and has ordered status quo…I want to tell Hindu brothers that Karnataka’s Muslims are not against Ganesha festival celebrations, Islam does not preach opposing other’s religious practices,” he said, maintaining that Eidgah is a Waqf property where Muslims have performed Namaz for 200 years.

Source: NDTV

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