BENGALURU: Posing a question to the state about the need to celebrate Tipu Jayanti, High Court Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee on Wednesday observed that Tipu Sultan was not a freedom fighter but a ruler of a princely state.
Justice Mukherjee, who was heading a division bench with Justice R B Budihal, made this observation when a PIL challenging the Tipu Jayanti celebrations was moved before the bench for immediate hearing.
The state government has decided to celebrate Tipu Jayanthi on November 10.
When the state government’s counsel made a submission that Tipu Sultan was a warrior who fought against the British, the Chief Justice observed that Tipu was not a freedom fighter. “What is the use of celebrating this? Even if the Nizam of Hyderabad had come, he would have fought him the same way,” the Chief Justice said. The bench adjourned the hearing of the PIL filed by K P Manjunath, a resident of Kodagu, to Thursday.
In the petition, Manjunath contended that a monarch’s birthday is proposed to be celebrated using the money from the consolidated fund. Tipu was a butcher as he is said to have slaughtered hundreds of local Kodavas during his regime, Manjunath said.
Referring to the violence in Kodagu during Tipu Jayanti celebrations last year and law and order problems across the state, the petitioner requested the court to issue appropriate directions to the state not to organise functions in the name of historic rulers which will hurt religious sentiments of a particular sect and endanger peace and communal harmony.