SC Rejects Plea Against K’taka Inviting Booker Prize Winner Banu Mushtaq For Dasara Festival

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal challenging the Karnataka government’s decision to invite Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the state-sponsored Dasara Mahotsav at the Chamundeshwari temple in Mysuru.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta upheld the Karnataka High Court’s order allowing the state’s choice, observing that India’s Constitution is founded on secular principles. “Our preamble says we are secular, and this is a state programme, and the state can’t distinguish,” the bench remarked.

Petitioner’s Objections

The petitioner’s counsel argued that permitting a non-Hindu to perform the Agra Puja at the Chamundeshwari temple would hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community. According to him, puja inside the temple was not a secular activity but an essential religious ritual that should be performed strictly as per Hindu customs.

The appeal filed before the apex court contended that:

The Agra Puja marks the formal inauguration of the traditional 10-day Dasara festival.

Rituals, including sacred chants and offerings, must be performed only by a Hindu dignitary as per Agama Shastra.

Since the time of the Wodeyar dynasty, inaugurations have been conducted by Hindu leaders, preserving the sanctity of tradition.

The petitioners also claimed that allowing a non-Hindu to perform the rituals would disturb the “purity of the ceremony, the divine spirit of the deity, and the belief system of the Hindu community.”

Court’s Stand

On September 15, the Karnataka High Court had dismissed the petitions, holding that inviting a non-Hindu dignitary to inaugurate Dasara celebrations does not infringe constitutional rights. The court observed that the festival is organised annually by the state government and is not limited to a religious domain.

Court further noted that eminent individuals from diverse fields—such as scientists, authors, educationists, and freedom fighters—have been invited in the past to inaugurate the celebrations. The participation of such figures, it said, symbolises inclusivity rather than exclusion.

Court’s Endorsement

Reiterating the High Court’s reasoning, the Supreme Court made it clear that the inauguration was part of a state event, not a purely religious function. By refusing to interfere, the bench reinforced the secular character of state-sponsored programmes.

What Lies Ahead

The Dasara Mahotsav is scheduled to begin on September 22, with Banu Mushtaq inaugurating the celebrations at the Chamundeshwari temple. With the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the appeal, the controversy over her participation has effectively been put to rest, reaffirming the constitutional principle that state functions cannot be confined to religious boundaries.