While defending its decision of cancelling Tipu Jayanti celebrations by spending money from the State exchequer from this year, the State government on Tuesday told the Karnataka High Court that it has not banned celebration by private persons or organisations.
State Advocate-General Prabhuling K. Navadgi made the submissions before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar during the hearing of a PIL petition.
Bilal Ali Shah, a resident of Lucknow and who claims to be Tipu Sultan’s descendant, along with organisations Tipu Sultan United Front and Tipu Rashtreeya Seva Sangha, Bengaluru, had filed the petition.
Though the A-G said that the government had taken note of law and order problems caused during the celebration of Tipu Jayanti at some places earlier, he said that “no reason” has been cited in the Government Order for cancelling the celebrations at the district- and taluk-level. Mr. Navadgi also pointed out that “no reasons” were cited in the 2015 Government Order when commencing celebration by earmarking funds for celebrations at the district- and taluk-levels.
Only organising Tipu Jayanti using money from State exchequer has been cancelled and not celebration by private individuals or organisations, the A-G clarified to the Bench while pointing out that it was only a four-year-old practise.
While contending that “it’s a policy decision” and hence no reason had to be citied, the A-G said the petition is not maintainable in law as it does not affect any right of citizen.
The Bench adjourned hearing till November 6.
