Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 30: A three-judge bench comprising of Justices Indira Banerjee, A S Oka and M M Sundresh has quashed the Karnataka High Court order granting permission to the state government to consider the application for use of the Idgah Maidan in Chamarajpet for holding religious activities particularly Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations for a limited period from August 31.

This implies that no Ganesh Chaturthi festival will be celebrated at the Idgah maidan in Chamarajpet on Wednesday, August 31.

The Supreme Cour has ordered status quo by both sides as of August 30 while hearing pleas in the Bengaluru Eidgah maidan case

Earlier today, the Supreme Court heard a plea against the Karnataka HC order by the Karnataka Waqf Board allowing the state government to hold relegious events on the currently disputed ground.

The matter was then referred to the three-judge bench of Justices Indira Banerjee, AS Oka and M M Sundresh citing difference of opinion among the two judges hearing the case earlier.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued before the court that the Karnataka HC's order is in violation of the 1964 order passed by the Supreme Court. Responding to the court's question about whether any other religious festival has been celebrated at the said maidan ever, Sibal noted that 'no religious function has been conducted on the land since 200 years.'

Sibal also argued the Karnataka HC's order might change the "character of the maidan" and that a "nod to the pooja at the maidan might hurt communal harmony."

"What is your apprehension regarding? Is it only for one particular festival that is to be celebrated at the maidan tomorrow or regarding permission for all festivals to be celebrated at the maidan?," the bench asked the Waqf side. In response, Sibal reiterated that "no other religious festival should be allowed except what we are allowed to do."

1600-odd police force deployed at Maidan

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, about 1600 police personnel deployed in and around Idgah Maidan. Security has been beefed up here to prevent any untoward incidents on the day of Ganesha Chaturthi.