The Campaign for the Right to Protest, a coalition of democratic and progressive groups and activists, while acknowledging concerns about organisations such as the RSS, called for measures that do not further infringe on citizens’ rights.
Published Oct 30, 2025 | 9:35 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 30, 2025 | 9:35 AM
Successive governments in Karnataka have enforced a controversial ban on public protests in Bengaluru, requiring groups to restrict their demonstrations to the 21-acre Freedom Park.
Synopsis: Activists and civil society groups in Karnataka have criticised a recent state government order requiring prior permission for gatherings of more than ten people on government-owned properties, warning that it could restrict democratic freedoms such as the right to protest and assemble. The Karnataka High Court has issued an interim stay on the order—seen as an effort to rein in groups such as the RSS—while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced the government’s decision to appeal. Rights groups have urged the state to withdraw the order and instead use existing legal provisions to address hate-based activities without undermining constitutional freedoms.
Activists and citizens groups in Karnataka have expressed concern that the state government’s recent order regulating the activities of private organisations on government-owned properties could potentially disrupt public democratic activities, including protests and gatherings.
The government order (GO), among other provisions, mandates that prior permission must be obtained from the relevant authority for gatherings of more than ten people on government-owned properties.
Issued on 18 October, it is being seen as an effort by the ruling Congress to rein in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The move followed IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge’s call for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ban the RSS’s activities in public and government spaces.
On Tuesday, 28 October, the state High Court issued an interim stay on the order.
“The now-stayed GO had the potential to cause huge hardships to the activities of workers’ unions, Dalit organisations, women’s groups and many other civic bodies. The GO placed severe restrictions on fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution – Article 19(1)(a), freedom of speech and expression; 19(1)(b), right to assemble peacefully and without arms; and 19(1)(c), right to form associations,” the Campaign for the Right to Protest, a coalition of democratic and progressive groups and activists, said in a press statement.
Soon after the High Court order, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the state would file an appeal. The group, which had initially welcomed the court’s decision, expressed concern over the government’s intention to challenge it.
“The court’s intervention is within the constitutional framework. However, we note with concern the statement of the Chief Minister that the government will appeal this stay order of the High Court,” it said.
Successive governments in Karnataka have enforced a controversial ban on public protests in Bengaluru, requiring groups to restrict their demonstrations to the 21-acre Freedom Park after obtaining permission from the city police.
The rule was first introduced by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government through the Licensing and Regulation of Protests, Demonstrations and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order, 2021. The Congress government, which came to power in 2023, was widely expected to revoke the order, but has chosen not to.
Over the years, several protesters have been arrested for participating in rallies outside Freedom Park. In August 2022, the police arrested seventy-two farmers in Devanahalli who were protesting against the acquisition of 1,777 acres of fertile land by the government for industrial projects.
In November 2023, the Bengaluru Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against a group of people for holding a silent protest on St Mark’s Road in support of Palestine.
During the anti–Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in 2019, the Karnataka High Court, in what was seen as a landmark judgment, declared a police order limiting gatherings to no more than five people “completely illegal.” The court held that the “right to protest” was a basic feature of democracy protected under the Constitution of India.
However, in 2022, the court reversed its position and directed the state to ensure that no protests, processions, or meetings were held in Bengaluru by any organisation or group—political or non-political—anywhere except Freedom Park.
Amid these existing restrictions on protests in Bengaluru, activists say the recent government order could further curtail the democratic freedoms of citizens.
The Campaign for the Right to Protest, while acknowledging concerns about organisations such as the RSS, called for measures that do not further infringe on citizens’ rights.
“While we share the concern about organisations such as the RSS using public grounds to spread hate, vigilantism and militarised ideology, we believe that such actions should be addressed through existing legal provisions – not by curtailing the democratic freedoms of all citizens,” the group said.
The coalition referred to a circular issued by the Jagadish Shettar-led BJP government in 2013 prohibiting the use of schools for non-educational purposes, noting that the order had not been fully implemented.
In July 2025, the BJP held an event at the Ramagondanahalli Government School grounds in Mahadevapura to train people to identify “illegal Bangladeshis,” the group pointed out.
The coalition also noted that the RSS was permitted to march through Bengaluru despite the 2021 order restricting protests and demonstrations. “The RSS was allowed to march through Bengaluru whereas no other marches were allowed. Thus, without using the existing orders to restrict divisive ideologies, the government hastily brought in a new order,” it said.
The group demanded that the state immediately withdraw the government order instead of defending it in the High Court. It also urged the government to revoke the existing Licensing and Regulation of Protests, Demonstrations and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order, 2021, which confines protests to Freedom Park.
Additionally, the group called on the government to use existing statutory powers under the Police Act and local regulations to “restrict hate-based or violent activities – such as RSS shakhas or drills – without suppressing legitimate democratic activity.”
“We stand with the government on the need to act firmly against hate groups. The fight against hate cannot, however, happen by weakening the very freedoms that distinguish a democratic society from an authoritarian one,” the group said.
Similarly, Senior Advocate Ashok Haranahalli, appearing on behalf of the Hubballi Punashchetana Service Organisation during the High Court hearing prior to the interim stay, argued that the government order violated fundamental rights.
“Even holding a laughter club in the park would be considered an illegal gathering as per the government’s order,” he told the court, according to Bar and Bench. The matter has been posted for further hearing on 17 November.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
