'Don't Take Courts For Granted': Karnataka High Court Slams Hindu Body For Allegedly Putting Up March Banners Before Getting Permission

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday [ August 13] orally slammed Hindu Jagaran Vedike for allegedly putting up banners for the proposed march on Independence Day eve in Mysuru, despite not receiving any permission to conduct the event from the court as of yet.  

The single judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj was hearing the petitioner's plea seeking permission to conduct a torchlight march and stage a program in Mysuru city on the occasion of Independence Day despite opposition from the police.

As the State submitted that the banners had been allegedly put the court orally said,“…Don't take courts for granted…this is not the way…we are trying to get you an order…you put up banners before the court grants permission?”. 

Senior Counsel Aruna Shyam appearing for the petitioners submitted that it could be locals who have put up the banners and not the functionaries of the organisation.

When the matter was called in the morning, Additional Government Advocate Bhanu Prakash had strongly opposed the petition, raising serious concerns about the organisers' criminal antecedents. Meanwhile Shyam furnished a memo containing the names of organisers conducting the event.

However the AGA submitted that the organisers, including the Convenor- petitioner, have cases registered against them. He produced a chargesheet in a crime, pointing out that the accused named in the memo, including petitioner-convenor of the organisation Vasanth Kumar, and other members such as Girish, and Suresh, are the very same persons who have been investigated.

 The AGA alleged that the accused persons would go to railway stations, identify people, and attack them by alleging that they are Bangladeshis, as a form of vigilantism.

The AGA further iterated that the proposed torchlight march would pass through the 'most sensitive area' in the 'whole of Mysuru', which could potentially incite communal violence in the wake of Independence Day.

The AGA suggested an alternative route in the same vicinity, arguing that the petitioners' proposed route was dangerous.

“…What I am trying to say is I have so much material to show how communal violence would be invoked. In the wake of Independence Day, they want to go in an area that is the most sensitive…”, the AGA submitted.

Countering the State's objections, Shyam said that not even one untoward incident has happened in connection with the proposed march. Moreover, the proposed event was open to the public and was not targeting any particular religious group, he added.

During the hearing in the morning session the court orally showed inclination to grant permission and said, “…. For Independence Day, we can't accept it [state's arguments on sensitive area] ….if it was any particular religious festival, you[state] can take up the communal angle”, the court had orally remarked in the morning.

Yesterday, the court had orally remarked that it would impose strict liability on the organizers, warning that they would be held responsible for any incident arising therefrom.

The petitioners approached the High Court challenging an endorsement dated August 6, 2026, issued by the Mandi Police Station, Mysuru, refusing permission for the proposed event.

The petitioners sought to conduct 'Akhanda Bharatha Sankalpa Diwas' through a torchlight march/walk and a stage program at Mysuru City. The event was scheduled on the evening of August 14, 2026 (Independence Day eve). The petitioners argued that since Independence was taken at midnight, it has become a tradition to celebrate it on the evening of August 14.

The matter is listed on Friday.

Case Title: Hindu Jagarana Vedike v. State of Karnataka

Case No: Writ Petition No. 25036 of 2026