The High Court of Karnataka on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking directions not to allow the celebration of Tipu Jayanthi in Kodagu district and not to organise any functions in the name of Tipu Sultan.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar dismissed the PIL as the petition had become infructuous since Tipu Jayanthi was over.
Manjunath K P, a resident of Kodagu district, had approached the court contending that history was being rewritten by politically motivated people to project a man like Tipu Sultan, who he said was guilty of mass murder, as a hero.
“It not only hurts the sentiments of the Kodavas, but also sends out a wrong message about history to the future generation of the country,” the petitioner contended. Citing violence and loss of life during Tipu Jayanthi celebrations in 2015, the petitioner had sought directions to the government not to hold any celebrations in Kodagu district.
The petitioner was directed to give a representation to the chief secretary. The government said that measures would be taken to ensure there will be no untoward incidents in future during Tipu Jayanthi celebrations. The bench dismissed the PIL as the celebrations were over in 2016.
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