Supreme Court Upholds Invitation of Non-Hindu as Chief Guest at Mysuru Dasara

The Supreme Court has rejected a plea challenging the Karnataka High Court’s decision allowing International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq, a non-Hindu, to inaugurate the Mysuru Dasara festival as Chief Guest.

The petitioner contended that Hindu rituals in the ceremony should be performed only by a Hindu.

The High Court held that a person of another faith inaugurating a state-organised event does not violate constitutional or legal rights.

Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted that the State, under constitutional principles, cannot discriminate among individuals on the basis of religion.

[H.S. Gaurav v. State of Karnataka and Ors.]