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NC: 2026:KHC:20737 WP No. 10181 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026

BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN

WRIT PETITION NO. 10181 OF 2026 (LB-BMP)

BETWEEN:

MALLESHWARAM BRAHMANA SABHA TRUST (R)

A REGISTERED TRUST HAVING ITS OFFICE AT MAHALAKSHMI NILAYA,

NO.32, RANGANATHAPURA, 17^TH CROSS ROAD, MALLESHWARAM,

BANGALORE - 560 003 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY

SRI. KOWSHIK, S/O T.R.SEETHARAMAIAH,

AGED 69 YEARS, MAHALAKSHMI NILAYA, NO.32,

RANGANATHAPURA, 17^TH CROSS ROAD, Digitally MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE - 560 003.

signed by …PETITIONER GEETHA P G Location: (BY SRI. K.N. NITISH, ADVOCATE FOR

HIGH SRI. K.V. NARASIMHAN, ADVOCATE)

COURT OF KARNATAKA AND:

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY,

VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001.

2. GREATER BANGALORE AUTHORITY, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF COMMISSIONER,

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N.R.SQUARE, BANGALORE - 560 001.

3. THE COMMISSIONER, BENGALURU WEST CITY CORPORATION,

GREATER BANGALORE AUTHORITY, ICP CENTRE, MALLESHWARAM,

BANGALORE - 560 003.

4. SENIOR ASSISTANT HORTICULTURE DIRECTOR, BANGALORE WEST CITY CORPORATION,

8^TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE - 560 003.

5. EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (LAKES), BANGALORE WEST CITY CORPORATION,

GREATER BANGALORE AUTHORITY, MALLESHWARAM,

BANGALORE - 560 003.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SPOORTHI V, HCGP FOR R1;

SRI. PAWAN KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER / COMMUNICATION AT ANNEXURE-H DATED 18.03.2026 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.4 BEARING HI.SA.THO.NI (PA-2)/PR/67/2025-26 AND ETC.,

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING

IN 'B' GROUP THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING / PHYSICAL

HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner is a Trust. It sought the permission of

respondent Nos.2 to 4 to conduct a function on the revered Acharya Shankaracharya, in the light of Sri Shankaracharya Jayanthi being celebrated in the country on 21.04.2026, at Yoga Auditorium in Sankey Tank Park. The said request has been turned down by respondent No.4 on the ground that the auditorium cannot be utilized for Dharmic activities. Aggrieved by the same,

the present writ petition is filed.

2. The case of the petitioner is that there are no

rules and regulations framed as to what are the activities that can be conducted in the concerned auditorium and that the State has been permitting certain activities in the auditorium and its institutions. It is further submitted that the said auditorium is also allotted to private individuals for conducting programs. In this regard, the petitioner has

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produced material evidencing that concerts and other programs organized by private organizations have been

permitted to be held in the said premises.

3. The learned counsel appearing for respondent

Nos.2 to 5, upon instructions, submits that the auditorium is generally not given for religious and Political activities. However, he is unable to contravene the aforementioned submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner. He, however, submits that the said auditorium is a yoga center and if it were to be for any yoga related

activities, permission would have been granted.

4. The learned counsel appearing for respondent

Nos. 2 to 5 is unable to produce any guidelines or regulations stipulating the purposes for which the auditorium can be utilized. Though it is contented that the auditorium is meant for promoting yoga activities, it is seen from the past usage that activities which does not pertain to yoga were also permitted in the auditorium. However, as already stated above, no regulation or

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decision by the Government which bans conduct of Dharmic activities in the auditorium i

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