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The Karnataka High Court permitted the RSS to conduct its route march in Kalaburagi’s Chittapur on November 16 with 300 participants and a 50-member band
The RSS route march in Kalaburagi’s Chittapur has been allowed after weeks of legal wrangling and a court directive allowing the march under strict conditions. (Image: PTI/File)
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday allowed the RSS to conduct a long-pending route march at Chittapur in Kalaburagi – the home turf of state minister Priyank Kharge, and one that had turned into a flashpoint between the ruling Congress and the Sangh.
The route march, however, was allowed with certain conditions even as the high court noted that the tehsildar of Chittapur had already granted permission for the event scheduled on November 16.
The permission comes after weeks of legal wrangling and a court directive allowing the march under strict conditions. Justice MGS Kamal disposed of the petition filed by Ashok Patil, convener of the Kalaburagi unit of the RSS, permitting the organisation to conduct its route march on November 16 with 300 participants and a 50-member band.
Advocate Aruna Shyam, representing the petitioner, told News18 that the Sangh will fully comply with the conditions imposed by the administration.
“We will abide by all the conditions laid down by the district authorities. The march will be conducted only between 3 pm and 5.30 pm, and participation will be restricted to 300 swayamsevaks in uniform and 50 members in the band team, known as ‘Ghosh’. There have been some modifications made to the route, and we have accepted them,” Shyam said.
He said the march, known as ‘Path Sanchalan’, was part of the centenary celebrations of the RSS.
“Our intention was to perform the ‘Path Sanchalan’ to commemorate 100 years of the RSS. Similar events have been held peacefully in many places across India and, now, in Chittapur, it will take place on November 16 at the time specified under the conditions mentioned. We will obey all of them,” he said.
Priyank Kharge, who represents Chittapur and has been elected three times from the constituency, told News18 that the government had followed due process in granting permission.
“I hope that in future, the RSS learns to seek permission from the government rather than merely informing it. The message from the government is loud and clear – nobody is above the Constitution, nobody is above the law. Seek permission, and if the government finds it fit, you will get it. Restrictions have been imposed this time, and we will see what laws can be brought in future for such marches,” Kharge said.
The issue has been simmering for a couple of months. In October, the HC had heard petitions concerning the RSS route march in Chittapur that had initially been denied by local authorities citing law and order concerns.
The court then directed officials to hold discussions with the RSS and other organisations to arrive at a solution. A peace meeting held on October 28 failed to come to a consensus.
Following this, a directive was given to hold yet another peace meeting on November 7 at the office of the Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty in Bengaluru. While the initial meeting remained inconclusive, later Shetty submitted to the Kalaburagi court that permission could be granted to 11 organisations, including the RSS, to hold their processions but on different dates.
During the hearing before Justice Kamal, Aruna Shyam requested the court to modify two conditions in the tehsildar’s order – one, to increase the cap on participants from 300 to 600, and two, to raise the number of band members from 25 to 50.
Shyam argued that the larger participation was warranted due to the organisation’s centenary celebrations and the public sentiment attached to it. Shetty, however, opposed the request stating that 300 was fixed after assessing similar events held in nearby areas, which typically saw between 100 and 150 participants.
He did, however, agree to the request to increase the number of band members. The court upheld this reasoning, allowing the increase in the band size but retaining the 300-person cap.
The controversy started when the Chittapur tehsildar – citing reports from the police and local intelligence – denied permission on October 19, pointing out that multiple groups, including the Bhim Army Bharatiya Dalit Panthers, Gonda Kuruba ST Horata Samithi, Karnataka Rajya Chalavadi Kshemabhivruddi Sangha, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, and Hasiru Sene, had also sought to conduct marches on the same day and route. The authorities said all organisations holding the march together could pose a potential law and order situation and refused permission to all.
After RSS convener Ashok Patil filed a fresh petition, the Kalburgi bench of the HC instructed the authorities to reconsider the application and submit a detailed report. Following this, the district administration revisited its decision and granted conditional approval.
“We are thankful to the court and the district administration for granting permission. The RSS has been celebrating its centenary across India, and only in Chittapur did we face such hurdles. We will adhere strictly to the conditions. As far as slogans are concerned, our swayamsevaks will only raise slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’. Those who have objections can object – we will raise slogans in praise of Bharat Mata,” Patil said.
Reacting to this, Priyank Kharge said: “At last, these anti-nationals are now shouting slogans in praise of the motherland. That’s good to know.”
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t…Read More
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t… Read More
November 13, 2025, 20:34 IST
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