No Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Bengaluru's Idgah Maidan as Supreme Court orders status quo

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Bengalurus Idgah Maidan will not be held the Supreme Court on Tuesday said while refusing to grant permission for the function and ordered status quo on land by both partiesNoting that no such function as Ganesh Chaturthi was organised at Idgah Maidan for the past 200 years the top court asked the parties to approach the Karnataka High Court for the resolution of the disputeIn a special hearing held at 445 pm a threejudge bench headed by Justice Indira Banerjee observed that the pooja be held somewhere elseThe writ petition is pending before the Single Bench of the High Court and has been fixed for hearing on September 23 2022 All questionsissues may be agitated in the High Court In the meanwhile status quo as of date with regard to the land in question shall be maintained by both the parties The special leave petitions are accordingly disposed of the bench also comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and M M Sundresh saidAlso Read Ganesh Chaturthi should not be allowed at Idgah Maidan Karnataka Cong MLAThe top court was hearing an appeal filed by the Central Muslim Association of Karnataka and Karnataka Waqf Board challenging the order of the High CourtA division bench of the Karnataka High Court on August 26 permitted the state government to consider and pass appropriate orders on the applications received by the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban seeking the use of Idgah Maidan at ChamarajpetEarlier in the day Chief Justice of India U U Lalit constituted a threejudge bench to hear a plea by the Karnataka Waqf Board and Central Muslim Association of Karnataka challenging the High Courts order which allowed the use of Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrationsThe order came after a twojudge bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia referred the issue to CJI citing a difference of opinionSenior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the petitioner submitted before the threejudge bench that it is an admitted position that no religious function has been performed of any other community at the Idgah Maidan for the last 200 yearsSibal said Idgah is Waqfs property and there is an attempt to change the character of MaidanThe Supreme Court judgement established that Muslims were in possession and that it was an Idgah and that the municipal corporation had no right over the same We dont speak of politics in court but this reeks of something What is the atmosphere being created Suddenly they say it is the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike ground he saidAt this the bench asked If the grievance is only against Ganesh Chaturthi or any other function as wellSibal replied that they have an objection against the use of the land for any other purposeSenior advocate Dushyant Dave also appearing for the petitioners argued that Muslims have the right to administer their waqf property and the state government cannot interfereMy lords dont give the impression to religious minorities that their rights can be trampled he saidSenior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the state government said that for the past 200 years the Idgah land was used as a playground for children and all revenue entries are in the name of the StateHe said the Waqf Board is not in exclusive possession of the Idgah landWhat is that the High Court has done Every part of this country you have festivals In Bengal you have Durga Puja in Maharashtra roads are closed for Ganesh Chaturthi One should be broadminded What is going to happen if Ganesh Chaturthi is allowed for two days he submitted adding that Can somebody say no because it is a Hindu festivalDave suddenly got up and asked I wonder if in any temple in this country a minority community will be allowed for prayersSolicitor General Tushar Mehta also appearing for the State made a proposal to allow Ganesh Puja for two days and said the rest of the issues can be decided laterMehta said the state government would undertake to take care of the law and order situation in the areaDave again interjected and said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister had also given an assurance to this court but Babri mosque was still demolishedThe apex court sought to know if any preparations have been done at the land for the celebrations tomorrowRohatgi replied negativelyThe division bench of the high court had said that religious and cultural activities can be allowed by the government there but for a limited period from August 31The Single Judge had ordered that the 2acre of land should be used only as a playground and Muslims should be allowed to pray there on only two festivals Bakrid and Ramzan till the case was disposed ofThe Hindu organisations sought permission for holding the Ganesh Chaturthi festival at the maidanThe Joint Commissioner west of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike BBMP had ruled that the property belonged to the Revenue Department following the civic bodys Chief Commissioners directions to verify the ownership of the landHowever the Karnataka State Board of AUQAF and District Waqf Officer Bengaluru challenged the August 7 order of the Joint Commissioner before the Single Judge who had ordered the status quoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever