Karnataka HC Directs Govt. To Reconsider Decision To Scrap Tipu Jayanti Event

Karnataka High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the order issued by the State Government, cancelling celebrations of Tipu Jayanti, as a state event. However, the court has directed the government to reconsider its decision in a period of two months. Tipu Jayanti is to be celebrated on November 10.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice S R Krishna Kumar gave the directions while hearing a petition filed by Lucknow based Bilal Ali Shah, who claims to be a descendant of Tipu Sultan along with Tipu United Front and Tipu Rashtreeya Seva Sangha who had challenged the government's order, dated July 30, cancelling the celebration of Tipu Jayanti, as a state event.

The court said the state had decided to cancel the celebrations without considering the elaborate reasons, given in the previous orders of 2015 and 2016, supporting the celebrations. "It should not look like as the decision was taken arbitrarily," it said.

Advocate General Prabhuling Navadagi, opposed the plea saying the celebrations was a policy decision at the administrative level. If individuals or organisation want to celebrate Tipu Jayanti, independently, nothing prevents them from doing so. The bench thus directed authorities to take all precautionary measures to ensure law and order on the occasion.

On the next date of hearing, January 20, 2020, the government is also told to give details of all state orders issued to celebrate various Jayantis, in the state. Petitioners had argued that the state has not given any reasons for abruptly cancelling the celebrations. On October 25, 2015 the government had taken a decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti across the state.