High Court refuses to stay Tipu Jayanthi celebrations

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday refused to grant a stay on the celebration of Tipu Jayanti.

Manjunath, a resident of Hisodlur village in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu district had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a stay on the celebration of Tipu Jayanti in Udupi and Kodagu district, claiming that it would lead to law and order problem.The High Court, however, refused a stay and ordered notice to the state government.

The PIL filed by K P Manjunath from Kodagu appealed the court for quashing the circular issued by the government on October 24 for celebrating Tipu Jayanti across the state.According to the petitioner, Tipu Sultan's reign in Coorg had resulted in the conversion of Kodavas and he had killed thousands of Kodavas as retaliation to his defeat by them.The petitioner stated that celebrating Tipu Jayanti in Kodagu, his home district will hurt the sentiments of a section of the people and will also lead to communal disharmony in the district and other parts of the state.