BENGALURU: A day after questioning the state government over celebrating Tipu Sultan jayanti and orally observing that Tipu was not a freedom fighter but a monarch who fought to safeguard his interests, the High Court on Thursday disposed of the plea against the celebrations.
The division bench, headed by Chief Justice S.K. Mukherjee, also directed the petitioner (K.P. Manjunath) to make a representation to the state's Chief Secretary, who in-turn is directed to take a decision by November 8 on the matter.
Earlier, the state counsel strongly defended its action and cited that it was the state cabinet's decision to observe Tipu Jayanti and questioned the maintainability of the petition. It further argued that the Jayanti was celebrated last year too. As for the alleged law and order issue, the state argued that it is for the administration to take care of.
The petitioner's advocate, Sajan Poovayya, submitted that two people had died during the previous years celebrations and the state was using public funds to celebrate the birth anniversary of a monarch.
“Celebrating the birth anniversary of a monarch was against Article 16 of the Indian Constitution (abolition of titles). Tipu Sultan was a prince and celebrating his birth anniversary is against the ethos of the constitution. The State Government, despite knowing the fact that two people were killed in Kodagu last year, still want to celebrate using the state exchequer. Tipu has killed more than 80,000 people and had encouraged forced conversions. Any celebration in his name hurts the sentiments of the people of Kodagu,” Poovayya argued.
The petitioner, Manjunath K.P., had approached the court filing the PIL, seeking directions to the authorities, not to celebrate the proposed Tipu Jayanti in his home district, and avoid organising functions in the name of those rulers, which hurt religious sentiments of a particular section and endanger peace and communal harmony.
Relief to Katta, son
In a relief to former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu and eight others, including his son Katta Jagdish, the High Court on Thursday quashed proceedings against them in the Lokayukta court in connection with the multi crore KIADB scam. They had sought discharge from Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) land scam case.
