Kalaburagi/Bengaluru 13 Nov 

The Karnataka High Court has granted permission for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route march in Chittapur, which had earlier sparked major controversy and political tension. The court permitted the march on 16 November with 300 participants and a 50-member band, a reduction from the 800 members the RSS sought.

The march is part of the RSS centenary celebrations and has become a point of contention in the constituency of Minister Priyank Kharge.

Justice MGS Kamal recorded that the Tahsildar of Chittapur had already granted permission for the event scheduled on 16 November, subject to specific conditions.

Earlier, the District Commissioner had denied permission for the RSS march in Chittapur. At the same time, Dalit organisations sought to hold a rally on the same day, leading to a legal dispute. The matter eventually reached the Karnataka High Court’s Kalaburagi Bench, which has now issued a key order permitting the RSS march with certain conditions.

While the RSS had sought permission to hold the route march from 3.30pm to 630pm on 16 November, the court shortened the duration, allowing it only from 3.30pm to 5.45pm.

The issue erupted when authorities in Chittapur, Priyank’s home constituency, denied permission for the RSS route march on 19 October, citing the possibility of disruption of peace and law and order. The Chittapur Tahsildar had then cited that the Bhim Army and other organisations have also informed that they too will conduct a route march on the same route on the same day.