News Brief
SC Backs Karnataka’s Invite To Banu Mushtaq For Mysuru Dasara Inauguration
Booker Prize–winning author Banu Mushtaq, invited to inaugurate the Mysuru Dasara festival. (X)
The Supreme Court on Friday (19 September) upheld the Karnataka government’s decision to invite International Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq as the Chief Guest for Mysuru’s Dasara inauguration on 22 September, reported The New Indian Express.
A petitioner had challenged the Karnataka High Court’s order, claiming that Mushtaq’s alleged “anti-Hindu” remarks disqualified her from performing rituals at the festival.
During the hearing, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked the petitioner’s lawyer HS Gaurav why he filed the plea.
Gaurav argued that his client’s Article 25 rights were at stake. The bench reminded him of India’s “secular” Preamble, but added, “that should not interfere with my religious activities.”
Dismissing the plea, the court observed, “This is a state program... how can the state distinguish between A, B, and C?”
Gaurav contended that lighting a lamp before Goddess Chamundeshwari was a religious act, not secular, and that inviting a non-Hindu defiled the sanctity of the festival.
Earlier, on 15 September, a High Court bench led by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru rejected similar petitions. It ruled that interfaith participation in festivals does not violate Articles 25 and 26.
The HC noted, “Undisputedly, the festivities are organised by the State every year. And, an accomplished person is called for the inaugural ceremony.”
The court described Mushtaq as a 2025 Booker Prize-winning author, lawyer, social activist, and former public office-holder.
