The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday dismissed a PIL seeking directions to restrain BJP Yuva Morcha from holding the “Mangaluru Chalo” bike rally and a public gathering in Mangaluru or anywhere in Dakshina Kannada district.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar said they cannot do anything about the PIL and dismissed it for being devoid of merit.
The bench said as maintaining law and order is the domain of the state government, the court cannot interfere.
The petitioner’s advocate contended that due such gatherings and rallies, Dakshina Kannada district had to suffer for nearly 85 days with schools, colleges and business activities coming to a standstill.
The bench said it only shows complete failure of the administration, but the court cannot transgress into the territory of the government and issue directions or prohibitory orders.
The PIL was filed by residents of Dakshina Kannada district, Suhail Khan and others who stated that they witnessed communal violence in the name of rallies held by various religious and political groups.
They sought directions to the Home department not to allow BJP Yuva Morcha to conduct a rally on vehicles, hold a gathering and use loud speakers within Mangaluru or other parts of Dakshina Kannada and to maintain peace.
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