Karnataka HC Asks Maharashtra Ekikarana Samiti To Respond To PIL For Banning Observation Of 'Black Day' On November 1

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (January 22) asked the State and Maharashtra Ekikarana Samiti (MES) to file their response to a public interest litigation plea seeking a direction to restrain MES from observing or publicizing black day on Kannada Rajyotsava (November 1) in Belagavi or any other Kannada speaking region.

A division bench of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice M I Arun said “The reply affidavit of all the respondents shall be filed before the next date of hearing, stand over to February 18.”

The court passed the order while hearing the petition filed by Mallappa Chayappa Aksharad. The plea sought a direction to the authorities to prevent MES from conducting or organizing any public demonstration, protest, rally, or assembly on November 1 (Kannada Rajyotsava) within Belagavi or any other part of Karnataka.

Reportedly, MES is a body which has sought the merger of Belagavi district in Karnataka with the Maharashtra.

Advocate Amruthesh N P appearing for the petitioner argued that this petition is in regards to celebration of Kannada Rajyotsava it touches all the Kannadigas, but in Belagavi district there is a border dispute, these MES fellows making it a black day. It has been done for over 20 years now.

Further he said “Petitioner and others have been giving complaints but the authorities have not taken cognizance and even police are arranging bandobast for them to do this black day. Several complaints are filed, cases are filed.”

It was also submitted that in 2024 also the procession was done. "I have also filed a memo about how they conducted it and also photographs which appeared in newspapers,” the counsel said. 

The plea claims that the protest disrupts public peace, infringes upon the rights of Kannada speaking citizens to peacefully observe their states foundation day, and creates an environment of communal disharmony.

Further, the plea seeks a direction the authorities to ensure a secure environment for Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations across the state, including the deployment of necessary law enforcement to prevent and control any unlawful gatherings or hostile demonstrations on November 1st, of every year.

Moreover, it seeks a direction to formulate and enforce policies or guidelines that prohibit public observance of black day or any other divisive events on Kannada Rajyotsava in order to maintain harmony and uphold the state's cultural integrity.

Case Title: MALLAPPA CHAYAPPA AKSHARAD AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 29267/2024