Removing dharmic activities amounts to removing soul of the country: Karnataka High Court

Observing that “the greatness of the Indian civilisation is intertwined with its dharmic and cultural activities and removing it amounts to removing the soul from the country”, the Karnataka High Court has set aside a decision of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and Bengaluru West City Corporation that denied permission to a private association to conduct an event celebrating Sri Shankaracharya Jayanti at the Yoga Auditorium in Sankey Tank Park.

Justice M.I. Arun, while allowing a petition filed by the Malleshwaram Brahmana Sabha Trust, made observations on the “inseparable bond between Indian culture and dharma”. The GBA had refused permission to hold the event, stating that the public auditorium cannot be used for holding religious and political events.