In a late-night court proceeding, the High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday declined to interfere with the decision of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) to permit celebration of Ganesha festival at Idgah Maidan, Hubballi.
Justice Ashok S. Kinagi passed the interim order at 11.30 p.m. on a petition filed by Anjuman-E-Islam, Hubballi, by declining to accept the petitioner’s plea to restrain the HDMC from allowing installation of Ganesha idol at the maidan. The petitioner had questioned the decision taken by the House panel of the HDMC to allow Ganesha festival for three days from August 31.
The court prima facie noted that the issue of Hubballi Idgah Maidan was different from from issue of Idgah Maidan of Chamarajpet in Bengaluru. While there was a dispute over the title with regard to Chamarajpet maidan, the HDMC was the absolute owner of Hubballi Idgah Maidan as the title was confirmed by the civil courts in Hubballi and the High Court between 1972 and 1992, and these orders were finally confirmed by the apex court in 2010, the court noticed.
