The Karnataka High Court on Monday dismissed petitions challenging the invitation to Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq as the chief guest for the upcoming Dasara festival in Mysuru, observing that inviting a person of a different faith does not violate anyone’s rights.
“We are not persuaded to accept that permitting persons of different faith to the function organised by the state violates any legal or constitutional right of petitioners or in any manner opposed to values enshrined in the Constitution of India. Accordingly, petitions are dismissed,” said the division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi after hearing the arguments.
Three petitions challenging the State government’s decision to invite Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq as the chief guest for the upcoming Dasara festival in Mysuru.
One of the petitions had been filed by BJP leader Pratap Simha, who sought a direction to withdraw the invitation.
During the hearing, advocate S. Sudharshan, appearing for one of the petitioners, referred to alleged anti-Kannada remarks made by Mushtaq in 2023 and argued that Dasara, being a predominantly Hindu festival, should be inaugurated only by someone of Hindu faith.
The bench, however, questioned the argument, orally observing: “It is an opinion voiced by somebody… are you saying in this country people cannot voice their opinion? You tell us what is your constitutional right?”
Sudharshan argued that only a Hindu should inaugurate the festival, citing Hindu traditions of idol worship and rituals, and argued that the invitee should give an undertaking to bestow faith in the deity.
Another counsel questioned whether a non-Hindu could perform a pooja to a Hindu Goddess, claiming that it would be against Agama Shastra.
The court, however, clarified that the issue was not about religious prohibitions, noting, “If somebody comes and says ‘I will abide by the rituals,’ how is it prohibited?” The bench also pointed out that no temple or trustee had challenged the decision.
Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty, appearing for the State, defended the invitation.
He argued that Dasara is a state festival in which people of all faiths participate, and that reducing it to a purely religious function cannot be permitted.
He also highlighted that the invitation committee comprises 62 members, including MPs and MLAs from across parties.
“It is quite hurting to say she is anti-Hindu,” he submitted, adding that similar fears of division must be “nipped in the bud.”
The AG further noted that in 2017, poet Dr. Nisar Ahmed, a Muslim, had been invited as the chief guest and that Pratap Simha himself had participated in the celebration as MP at the time.
Responding to this, Sudharshan argued that Ahmed had written devotional poems and had not made any anti-Kannada remarks, unlike Mushtaq.
Rejecting the petitions, the High Court remarked that Vijayadashami is a festival symbolizing the victory of good over evil, celebrated across the country, and that inviting a person of another faith as chief guest does not infringe any constitutional or religious rights.
