Karnataka High Court: Communities Can Celebrate Festivals, But Must Not Force Others

Karnataka High Court ruled that communities have the right to celebrate festivals, but no community can force another to perform acts, even if rooted in tradition.

The court responded to the Madiga Community’s writ petition, which objected to being compelled at Muharram festivities to beat a percussion instrument, a custom linked to cast discrimination.

Justice M.I. Arun emphasised that human and national identity always supersede over cast or religious identities.

The court left the decision to the state authorities to decide whether the festivities should continue or not, and also mentioned that the beating of the Madigas should be avoided and participants should be protected.