Book fair organisers are planning to approach the High Court for special permission.
There are a lot of legal defects in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms' document. We're hoping that the media hype we've created will help us -- Devaru Bhat, Secretary of Bangalore Book festival.
Bangalore: Former Home Minister R. Ashok spoke out in defence of the Bangalore Book Festival at the Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum on Tuesday. The festival, which has been taking place in the city for a decade now, has been officially cancelled this year.
The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) had refused to permit the festival to be held for more than three days at the Palace Grounds.
“We were hoping for good news when Ashok raised the issue, but I don't think anything has come of it,” said Devaru Bhat, the secretary of the Bangalore Book Festival. “We made a mistake by raising an appeal with the DPAR,” said Bhat. The organisers had approached the department with a recommendation from U.R. Ananthamurthy, but said “nothing has worked.”
The ten day long festival, which has been held at Palace Grounds since it began back in 2002, sees over 10,000 visitors each day. “Last year, the DPAR came up with guidelines for allotting Palace Grounds and decided that it will not be given out for more than three days for commercial events,” Bhat explained.
“During Navratri, the ground was given out for nine days for the dandia event, they submitted forms for three days each under different names, which the DPAR accepted. However, they aren't willing to do the same for us,” he pointed out.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended DPAR's decision at the winter session in Belgaum, although Bhat claims there are several legal flaws in DPAR guidelines.
The festival organisers said they don't want to hold it at a privately-owned venue, as it works out far too expensive. “Setting up takes about 12 days and we will be charged for that as well. Besides, there is an element of risk involved - what if it rains?” he asked.
Although they did consider holding the festival at RBANMS Grounds in Ulsoor, book sellers and participants vetoed the idea. “They said it doesn’t have enough visibility and parking is a big problem,” said Bhat.
The organisers are planning to approach the High Court for special permission. “There are a lot of legal defects in the DPAR's document, we're hoping that the media hype we've created will help us,” Bhat admitted. If they are granted special permission, the festival will most likely be held at Palace Grounds in the end of January.
( Source : dc )
Next Story
