The Karnataka High Court dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the state government’s invitation to Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq as the chief guest for the Dasara festival inauguration in Mysuru.
A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi held that “Participation of a person practicing a particular faith or religion, in celebrations of festivals of other religion does not offend the rights available under the Constitution of India.”
The petitioners had argued that it would be inappropriate for Mushtaq, a non-Hindu, to perform traditional Hindu rituals like lighting the sacred lamp, offering fruits and flowers to the deity, and chanting Vedic prayers, contending that such acts should only be performed by a Hindu.
The court, however, noted that “Undisputedly, respondent No.4 (Banu Mushtaq) is an accomplished author and 2025 Booker Prize winner. She is also a lawyer and a social activist. She has also served in various public offices…”
The bench observed that the petitioners’ right to practice and propagate religion under Article 25 of the Constitution “cannot be said to have been curtailed by merely inviting Mushtaq, an accomplished person.”
The state government, represented by Advocate General Shahi Kiran Shetty, argued that the inauguration is a state-organized function, not a temple-led religious ceremony, and cited a 2016 circular mandating that all temples under the state Religious Endowments Department grant free entry to all, without distinction of caste, community, religion, or gender.
The court agreed with the state’s position, noting that the Dasara festivities are organized by the state annually and have historically invited accomplished individuals from various fields. The decision to invite Mushtaq was made by a committee comprising elected representatives and government officials.
In its conclusion, the bench stated, “We are unable to accept that any legal or constitutional right of the petitioners is violated by extending the invitation to respondent No.4 to inaugurate the State sponsored Dasara festivities. In our view, the extension of invitation to respondent No.4 does not fall foul of any of the values enshrined in the Constitution of India.”
It added that “no right of any religious denomination or any Section thereon has been curtailed or restricted. None of the persons managing any religious denomination have come forward to claim that their right to maintain their institutions for religious and charitable purposes is being violated.”
(With inputs from Live Law)
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