Consider application for book fair at Palace Grounds: HC

The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday said the single-window agency looking into the grant of permission to conduct events at the Palace Grounds in the City can consider the application of Bangalore Booksellers and Publishers Association (BBPA) to organise a book fair there in January 2015.

Hearing an appeal by the State government, the division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice R B Budhihal said the permission sought by BBPA to conduct an exhibition between January 2 and 8, 2015, could be considered.

The government had appealed against the single judge order of February 2014, which had directed the government to permit the Bengaluru Book Festival for seven days at the Palace Grounds.

2012 case

The government had contended that as per the guidelines formulated by it in 2012,  it cannot permit any events at the venue (Palace Grounds) for more than three days, and sought to set aside the single judge order.

The order comes after BBPA moved the High Court challenging the government’s denial of permission to conduct a book fair between May 4, 2014 and May 10, 2014 at the grounds. The association had submitted that the government was discriminative while granting permission for events at the Palace Grounds and had stated that some of the programmes were given permission for more than three days.

Justice A S Bopanna had directed the State to extend the permission for seven days.
DH News Service