Ganesh Utsav will not be celebrated in Idgah Maidan of Karnataka, Supreme Court overturns High Court's decision

The Supreme Court has overturned the decision of the Karnataka High Court to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at the Idgah ground in Bengaluru. The court has said that the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi will not be celebrated here, the status quo will remain intact here. The matter was challenged by the Karnataka Waqf Board in the Supreme Court. A two-judge bench heard it today, but due to no consensus, the matter was transferred to a three-judge bench. Now the bench of 3 judges has started hearing on this matter.

The matter was earlier before the bench of Chief Justice of India U U Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat. Both the judges could not reach a consensus on this, after which the Chief Justice constituted a three-judge bench comprising Justice Indira Banerjee, Justice AS Oak and Justice Sundaresh.

In fact, last week, the Karnataka High Court, in its order, allowed Ganesh Chaturthi to be celebrated at the Idgah ground in Bengaluru. This decision was challenged by the Karnataka Waqf Board in the Supreme Court. Today, Chief Justice U U Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat said after hearing this, "Due to the lack of consensus of the judges, we are transferring it to the bench of 3 judges."

During this, senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioners, told the CJI that "this is the property of the Muslim community and we will decide whether the ceremony should be held on it or not. The court cannot say that we should give permission for this ceremony."

In his argument, he further said, "This Idgah ground has been with the Muslim community for 200 years and now there can be no dispute over it. The matter needs to be looked into. The religious minorities have to manage their affairs under Article 25." It is unfair to encroach upon it. Has the Muslim community been allowed to enter the grounds owned by a Hindu trust?"

After this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on behalf of the Government of Karnataka, said on this matter, "We are talking about a ground which is completely open. It has neither any boundary wall nor any fencing. To make this municipal school But the Muslim community has been using it for themselves for 200 years, after which this petition was filed by the Municipal Corporation."

On this, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, said, "It is occupied by the Muslim community since 1831. They have been using this land for 200 years and their rights are established. After all this, the municipal corporation is challenging it for the first time in 2022.
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