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Synopsis

The Supreme Court on Monday said that the issue concerning the celebration of Hindu Festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi at Bengaluru's Idgah Maidan will be considered and listed before an appropriate bench.

A bench of Chief Justice UU Lalit and Justice Ravindra Bhatt was hearing Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal who was before Court challenging a decision of the Karnataka High Court whereby it allowed the government to consider applications seeking permission to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at the disputed Idgah Maidan site in Bengaluru. 

"This is bound to create religious tensions," Sibal said, while highlighting that the Idgah maidan has been used by Muslims for rituals for the past 6 decades or so.

Recently, the Karnataka High Court had allowed the state government to consider applications by persons who were looking to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at the site. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and  Justice S Vishwajith Shetty had said that the the Indian Society comprises religious, linguistic, regional or sectional diversities. The Constitution of India itself fosters brotherhood amongst various sections of the Society. The principle of religious toleration is the characteristic of Indian civilization.

The Karnataka Governnment had come before the division bench after a Single bench had passed an interim order on August 25 of maintaining status quo on the site, restraining the use of the "Idgah Maidan" for any other religious activities except on Ramzan and Bakrid festivals. 

The Maidan was also allowed to be used for Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations by state government. The Wakf Board had approached the High Court after the BBMP ruled that the land belongs to the Revenue Department. In effect, the Karnataka High Court modified this interim order. It is against this interim order that the Muslim outfits have approached Supreme Court.

[More details awaited]