High Court Permits 'Cauvery Aarti' Inside Bengaluru's Sankey Tank On Friday, Emphasises Need For Awareness On Conserving Water Bodies

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (March 20) permitted the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to hold the proposed 'Cauvery Aarti' inside Sankey Tank, scheduled to be held on March 21.

A division bench of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind disposed of the application filed by Geeta Mishra seeking a direction to the authorities to stop construction of all activities, temporary or permanent at the place of event.

It said, “The Authorities shall while conducting the Aarthi ensure that the public movement or gathering is managed to maintain law and order and further that the provisions regarding the prohibited acts in water bodies shall be observed.”

The court on going through the averments in the application noted that though prayer is addressed to BWSSB, it is not a party to the main writ petition nor impleaded in the present application. Evidencing that the application is filed in a casual fashion, it said, “The pleadings in the application are too cursory to be countenanced. The application is casually filed without prayers, looks like a telegram sent to the court. Not only that there is no substantiation of the allegations made except production of photographs and newspaper reports. Filing of such application is to be deprecated.”

The court accepted the assurance given by the government and authorities that the event is going to be a cultural event and no permission is granted for putting up food stalls. Accordingly it disposed of the application.

Before parting the court opined that “There is no gain saying in the recent times there is always a greater need for awareness about the conservation and disciplined approach to the water bodies and the awareness among the people, in that regard to be disseminated and promoted.”

During the hearing advocate G R Mohan appearing for the petitioner had argued that “We are not against any Aarthi being conducted but they can't put up any permanent structures and destroy the water bodies and affect the life of the birds.”

Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty for the state government submitted that the event is being done strictly in accordance with law. It is to create awareness about conservation of water and water bodies. All the precautions are being taken.

Senior Advocate Uday Holla appearing for BWSSB submitted that pooja at this tank is being conducted for over 100 years. On the occasion of water day, the event is being held to create awareness among the people.