Karnataka High Court Stays Government Order Restricting Public Events on State Land

The Karnataka High Court, Dharwad Bench, has stayed the State Government’s order dated October 18 mandating private organisations to obtain prior written permission before conducting events or meetings on government or public land.

The petitioners argued that the directive curtailed their fundamental rights to free speech and peaceful assembly guaranteed under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution.

The Bench observed that the impugned order was prima facie violative of citizens’ fundamental rights and emphasised that such constitutional freedoms cannot be curtailed through mere executive instructions.

The Court further held that any restriction on these rights must have proper legislative sanction, not administrative fiat.