Karnataka HC rejects Siddaramaiah Govt’s appeal against stay on curbing assembly in public spaces in Bengaluru

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday refused to lift the stay on the state government order restricting the assembly of 10 or more people in public spaces. The court had earlier ordered a stay on the Siddaramaiah government’s order that restricted any unauthorised assembly of 10 or more people in a government-owned space like roads, parks, etc.

A division bench of Justices S G Pandit and Geetha K B directed the government to approach the single judge to seek vacation of the stay. The single judge had issued an interim order on October 28.

The government order restraining gatherings came in the backdrop of proposed route marches by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to mark the organisation’s centenary. The order in question says that any programme or procession held in violation of the government order will be treated as “unlawful assembly” under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) Act.