2 weeks ago
Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill Regulating Public Spaces Amid Congress-RSS Row
The government of Karnataka, a state in India, has made new rules about places that belong to the government, like school grounds, parks, playgrounds and roads.
The rules are part of a new law, and under the law groups that want to hold big meetings or marches in these places must first ask the government for permission.
The government says this keeps everyone safe, because in 2025 many people got hurt at a huge crowd event near a cricket stadium.
A big volunteer group called the RSS is upset because it likes to hold its programmes in public grounds and school premises.
The RSS and a political party called the BJP say the government is unfairly picking on them.
A lawyer also says the new law goes against the Indian Constitution.
The government says the rules apply to every organisation, not just one group.
The leaders are still arguing about the law, and soon the state assembly will talk about it.
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday cleared a bill making prior government permission mandatory for gatherings and activities on state-maintained public properties.
It replaces a Home Department standing order of October 18, 2025 that made prior permission compulsory for gatherings of more than 10 people and was stayed by the Karnataka High Court.
The bill is expected to be tabled during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Karnataka Legislature and covers schools, colleges, playgrounds, parks, roads and waterbodies.
Home Minister Priyank Kharge said permission is compulsory for everyone, citing mega-event criteria applied after the 2025 stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB IPL victory celebration.
The BJP and advocate Girish called the bill unconstitutional under Article 19 and politically aimed at the RSS, while minister Santosh Lad denied it targets any specific organisation.
- Who
- The Congress-led Karnataka government and Cabinet, Home Minister Priyank Kharge, minister Santosh Lad, then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Karnataka High Court and advocate Girish
- What
- The Karnataka Cabinet cleared a bill making prior government permission mandatory for gatherings and activities on state-maintained public properties, replacing a 2025 standing order stayed by the High Court.
- Where
- Karnataka, India — applying to state-maintained schools, colleges, playgrounds, parks, roads and waterbodies; an earlier dispute concerned an RSS route march in Chittapur in northern Karnataka.
- When
- The Cabinet cleared the bill on Thursday, with the news reported on August 14, 2026; it is expected to be tabled during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Karnataka Legislature.
- Why
- The government cites public safety and accountability, referring to the 2025 stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB IPL victory celebration; critics say the bill is aimed at politically targeting the RSS.
Karnataka government (Congress)
BJP and RSS
Intent of the bill
Karnataka government (Congress)
Minister Santosh Lad says there needs to be regulation on how government properties are used, and any organisation that wants to use government properties has to follow certain rules; Kharge insists no particular institution, organisation, club, union or NGO is in mind.
BJP and RSS
BJP spokesperson GS Prashanth says the bill is an attempt by the DK Shivakumar government to target the RSS and divert attention from the Congress government's misadministration and failures.
Legality of prior permission
Karnataka government (Congress)
Home Minister Priyank Kharge says permission is compulsory for everyone, with mega-event criteria introduced after the 2025 stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium applying and the administration deciding based on the local situation.
BJP and RSS
Advocate Girish calls the bill unconstitutional under Article 19 and plans to challenge it in court; the RSS says it has always held events and marches after taking permission from the police.
Government priorities
Karnataka government (Congress)
The government frames the law as needed for safety and accountability, preventing unauthorised use of public assets and noting that even a small Ganesh pandal needs permission.
BJP and RSS
BJP MLC N Ravi Kumar says Kharge sees only the RSS and ignores crumbling infrastructure, schools, hostels, buses and roads in his own Chittapur constituency.
Key facts
- Proposed legislation
- Karnataka State Public Places and Access Regulation Bill, 2026; reported in other outlets as Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026
- Status
- Cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday; expected to be tabled in the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Karnataka Legislature
- Covered properties
- Government buildings and lands, schools, colleges, playgrounds, parks, roads and waterbodies
- Replaces
- Home Department standing order of October 18, 2025, which required prior permission at least three days before events and was stayed by the Karnataka High Court
- Home Minister
- Priyank Kharge
- Government defence
- Santosh Lad says any organisation using government properties must follow rules; Kharge says no particular institution, organisation, club, union or NGO is in mind
- Main critics
- BJP and advocate Girish, who calls the bill unconstitutional under Article 19 and plans to challenge it in court
- Safety reference
- 2025 stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB IPL victory celebration; RSS route march denied in Chittapur on October 19, 2025
Quotes
Karnataka minister Santosh Lad
Minister of State in Karnataka Government
“"It (permission) is required because, as we (the government) submitted to the high court following the stampede incident ... the criterion for seeking permission for mega events applies."”
NDTV
“There needs to be regulation on how government properties are used. Why are they saying RSS? Any organisation that wants to use government properties has to follow certain rules.”
news18.com
Sources
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