In a development that has ignited outrage among cultural leaders and citizens alike, the Karnataka High Court has issued notices to the state government and Tumkur district administration following a petition alleging unjust denial of permission for Dasara celebrations in Tumkur city. The petition, filed by Tumkur Dasara Samiti secretary B.S. Malleshaiah, accuses authorities of exhibiting an indifferent and bureaucratic attitude towards a 30-year-old public cultural tradition.
The case came up before a single-judge bench headed by Justice B.M. Shyam Prasad, which directed the Revenue Department, Home Department, Director of Municipal Administration, Tumkur Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, and Municipal Commissioner to respond. The court has also asked the government’s legal team to gather detailed information and present it by the next hearing on August 22.
At the heart of the legal battle is a painful question: why is a decades-long tradition of communal celebration being quietly sidelined by a government that publicly claims to support Karnataka’s rich heritage?
“Bureaucratic insensitivity has insulted public sentiment”
The Tumkur Dasara Committee, formally registered in 2018, has been organising the Dasara festivities on Government Junior College Road and B.H. Since 1993, a peaceful and well-organised event has been held for 10 days every year. These celebrations are not new, nor controversial. They are deeply woven into the cultural and emotional fabric of Tumkur, observed joyfully by thousands.
“This is not just about lights and processions. This is about honouring a legacy, and giving the people of Tumkur their rightful celebration,” said B.S. Malleshaiah, speaking after the court hearing. “The refusal to grant permission, without any substantial explanation, is a grave insult to public sentiment.”
According to the petition, the Committee submitted multiple applications dated June 10, June 11, and July 18 requesting permission to conduct Dasara this year from September 30 to October 7. However, authorities remained silent, effectively stonewalling a legitimate cultural initiative.
A pattern of neglect?
Many in the city are now questioning whether the administration’s attitude reflects a deeper apathy towards public-led cultural initiatives. Dasara celebrations were previously halted in 1982 due to school construction, but even then, the break lasted only 10 years. Since their resumption in 1993, there has been uninterrupted celebration for three decades until 2023, when permission was abruptly denied without any public consultation or explanation.
“It’s not just a refusal. It’s an attempt to erase a people’s history, to suppress community celebration under the guise of vague administrative excuses,” said local resident and historian V. Prakash.
The roads in question are Government College Road and B.H. Roads are public spaces and have peacefully hosted the festival for 30 years. “If these roads were suitable for 30 years, what changed now? What is the new threat? Why has the government not communicated anything to the Committee or the people?” questioned another committee member.
High Court’s intervention brings hope
Legal experts believe the court’s notice is a significant step in holding the administration accountable. Senior advocate B. Madhusudan Adiga, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the denial violates the citizens’ constitutional right to cultural expression and peaceful assembly.
“The state has an obligation not only to maintain law and order but also to ensure that vibrant traditions are protected and promoted. Inaction or arbitrary denials cannot be a substitute for governance,” he said.
With growing discontent, opposition parties too have begun to question the Congress-led state government’s commitment to grassroots cultural programmes. Critics allege that despite boasting about its cultural credentials, the government has consistently failed to support community-led initiatives unless politically aligned.
“Stop suppressing culture under red tape”
Several local organisations and poets have expressed solidarity with the Tumkur Dasara Samiti. They have accused the administration of allowing red tape and political bias to stifle one of the region’s most inclusive festivals, one that draws people from all communities.
“If the state celebrates Mysuru Dasara with full glory, why can’t it support Tumkur Dasara which has grown out of people’s love and efforts, without government patronage?” asked a statement from the Tumkur Literary Forum.
The statement further added: “Dasara belongs to the people, not to politicians. Let no government think it can deny people the right to celebrate what they have built over decades.”
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