Ganesh Chaturthi At Idgah Maidan In Bengaluru: CJI U U Lalit Refers Case To Three-Judge Bench

Chief Justice of India U U Lalit Tuesday constituted a three-judge bench in the Supreme Court to hear a plea by the Karnataka Waqf Board challenging the High Court's order which allowed the use of Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

The three-judge bench will comprise Justices Indira Banerjee, Abhay S Oka, and M M Sundresh which will start hearing the matter some time from now.

The order came after a two-judge bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia referred the issue to CJI citing a difference of opinion.

'Heard the parties at some length. Neither the hearing could conclude nor any consensus could be reached between the bench. Let the matter be listed before the CJI, ' the two-judge bench said.

The top court was hearing an appeal filed by the Karnataka Waqf Board challenging the order of the Karnataka High Court.

A division bench of the Karnataka High Court on August 26 permitted the state government to consider and pass appropriate orders on the applications received by the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru (Urban) seeking the use of Idgah Maidan at Chamarajpet.

Last week, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the state government will decide on implementing the court order regarding allowing religious and cultural activities at the Chamrajpet Idgah playground for a limited period from August 31 in 'letter and spirit', after holding discussions with the Advocate General.

A Division Bench of the High Court of Karnataka had last week modified an interim order of a single judge bench on the Chamrajpet Idgah playground dispute, saying religious and cultural activities can be allowed by the government there, but for a limited period from August 31.

It should be noted that this case is separate from the Hubbali Idgah Maidan case, where the local civic-body has in fact allowed a three-day celebration marking Ganesh Chaturthi to be held.

With inputs from PTI.