BENGALURU: The State Government on Saturday issued an order restricting the use of government property, which also includes roads and parks, by any organisation or group of more than 10 people to carry out a march or rally, requiring them to take prior permission from the competent authority.
Though the move is seen as an attempt to restrict RSS activities, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah maintained that they are not targeting any organisation. The GO was issued after the cabinet decision on Thursday.
As per the GO, permission from police commissioners in cities and deputy commissioners in districts is required for a rally of more than 10 people, even on roads, in parks or playgrounds.
“The Government of Karnataka hereby orders that any private organisation, association or group of persons shall use the Government property or premises only upon the prior permission of the concerned competent authority,” stated the GO.
Application must be given 3 days before event
It stated that “government property means and includes any land, building, structure, road, park, playground, waterbody or any other immovable property owned and managed by local authority or department, boards, corporation, under the control or vested in, entrusted with or maintained by the Government of Karnataka.”
Any private association, society, trust, club, body of individuals, or any other entity, whether registered or not, other than local authority or government departments and undertakings, has to take permission from the “competent authority” which is the jurisdictional commissioner of police or deputy commissioner of the district or any other officers authorised by the government.
The permission is required for “congregation of more than 10 people called by any name, who are accompanied by music or otherwise, any other activity having a common object to carry on a common movement or route march passing through a government property except marriage and funeral gatherings and movements”. The application seeking permission for the programme has to be given three days before the intended procession.
The GO also stated that the applicant and the persons associated with him, having responsibility to organise programmes or processions, are liable to compensate and indemnify any loss or damage to public government or private properties, and they are also liable for any criminal liability arising out of such programmes or processions.
Any procession or rally in violation of the GO will be considered unlawful, and the assembly will be treated as an unlawful assembly as per the provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhithe 2023, and the police will take appropriate action. The GO also stated that detailed guidelines shall be issued by the respective departments so as to ensure that the rights of the citizens are not compromised in the grant of such permission by the competent authorities.