Though India is a secular country, it does not mean that the dharmic and cultural activities in the country cannot be entertained, the Karnataka High Court held. (Image generated using AI)Karnataka High Court news: Observing that removing dharmic and cultural traditions from Indian civilisation would be akin to “removing the soul from the country”, the Karnataka High Court has directed the civic authorities in Bengaluru to reconsider the denial of permission to a Trust to hold a Sri Shankaracharya Jayanti function at a public auditorium.Justice M I Arun, on April 16, pointed out that though India is a secular country, it does not mean that dharmic and cultural activities cannot be entertained. Justice M I Arun was hearing a plea by the Malleshwaram Brahmana Sabha Trust.“In fact, the greatness of Indian civilisation is intertwined with its dharmic and cultural activities and removing it amounts to removing the soul from the country. The Constitution of India itself contains pictures of seals from the Indian civilisation, a Gurukul – an integral part of the Indian Education System, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Gautama Buddha, Mahavira Swami and the like,” the order read.Also Read | Karnataka High Court steps in as father’s ‘inaction’ leaves 3-year-old US citizen at risk of deportation from IndiaPointing out that no guidelines or regulations exist stipulating the purposes for which the auditorium can be utilised, the Karnataka High Court added, “What is not prohibited is permitted.”The court was hearing the plea of the Malleshwaram Brahmana Sabha Trust, which sought permission from the authorities to conduct the Jayanti in a public auditorium.Celebration of Indian culture not illegal: CourtAlthough it is contended that the auditorium is meant for promoting yoga activities, past usage shows that other activities were also permitted in the auditorium, the Karnataka High Court noted.Shankaracharya is one of the most revered acharyas of India, and the Advaita philosophy propagated by him is one of the foremost philosophical traditions of the country.The Sri Shankaracharya Jayanti celebration has to be considered both dharmic and cultural under the circumstances.Though India is a secular country, it does not mean that the dharmic and cultural activities in the country cannot be entertained.The celebration of Indian culture, which is intertwined with dharma, can never be considered illegal or unconstitutional.Explained | Life, work and legend of Adi Shankara, Advaita master, philosopher nonpareilThe goodness in the same has to be actively promoted for the betterment of society.The corporation’s rejection, without there being any prohibition in terms of the government policy or law, is liable to be set aside.The petitioner cannot, as a matter of right, claim that the place should be given to them for the celebration of Sri Shankaracharya Jayanti.The petitioner has no vested right in this regard, and if the Trust satisfies other criteria and if the auditorium is available, the authorities are required to consider their request in accordance with the law.The Karnataka High Court, lastly, directed the authorities to consider the request of the Trust and take a decision within five days.Shankaracharya Jayanti celebrationIt was placed on record before the Karnataka High Court that the petitioner is a Trust seeking permission from the authorities to conduct a function related to the revered Shankaracharya at the yoga auditorium in the light of Sri Shankaracharya Jayanti being celebrated in the country on April 21.The request was, however, turned down by the Bangalore West City Corporation citing that the auditorium cannot be utilised for dharmic activities. Aggrieved by the same, the present writ petition has been filed.Story continues below this adAlso Read | ‘I am put on trial’: 12 reasons why Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma won’t exit Arvind Kejriwal caseIn its plea, the Trust pointed out that there are no rules and regulations framed as to what activities can be conducted in the concerned auditorium and that the state has been permitting certain activities in the auditorium and its institutions.It was further submitted that the auditorium is also allotted to private individuals for conducting programmes. In this regard, the petitioner placed material evidence on record indicating that concerts and other programmes by private organisations have been permitted to be held on the said premises.ArgumentsGovernment pleader Spoorthi V submitted before the Karnataka High Court that the auditorium is generally not given for religious and political activities. However, the court noted that he was unable to contravene the said submissions made by the counsel for the petitioner.The counsel then submitted that the auditorium is a yoga centre and permission would have been granted if it were to be used for any yoga-related activities.Richa Sahay is a Legal Correspondent for The Indian Express, where she focuses on simplifying the complexities of the Indian judicial system. A law postgraduate, she leverages her advanced legal education to bridge the gap between technical court rulings and public understanding, ensuring that readers stay informed about the rapidly evolving legal landscape. Expertise Advanced Legal Education: As a law postgraduate, Richa possesses the academic depth required to interpret intricate statutes and constitutional nuances. Her background allows her to provide more than just summaries; she offers context-driven analysis of how legal changes impact the average citizen. 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