HC on route march: RSS asked to file new plea & govt consider it

The Karnataka High Court on Sunday asked the state government to consider a fresh application from RSS, seeking permission to hold a route march at Chittapur in Kalaburagi district on November 2.

At a special sitting, justice MG Shukare Kamal issued directions on a petition moved by Ashok Patil, an RSS leader from the district. RSS moved the court after the Chittapur Tahsildar declined permission for the route march on October 19, citing lack of clarity on a dozen questions from the organisers of the event.

The Tahsildar also said that two other organisations - Bhim Army and Dalit Panthers - were planning to hold separate events on the same day and the same route.


The court, while asking the RSS to make a fresh application before the district authorities, also asked advocate general Shashikiran Shetty to submit an action taken report to the court. The court posted the case for further hearing on October 24, while making it clear that it was not passing an order on the merits of the petition.

Chittapur is represented in the assembly by minister Priyank Kharge, who campaigned for a ban on RSS activities at public places without permission.