Allowed

Fellowship of Udupi District Churches v. State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC18 Mar 2026WP/9112/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The petitioner sought permission to hold a three-day 'Festival of Peace' event. The police objected citing the speaker's criminal antecedents and prior undertaking before the Madras High Court. The court allowed the petition, directing the Superintendent of Police to grant permission and provide police protection, subject to the speaker filing an affidavit adhering to the earlier undertaking.

What did the court decide?

Directed Respondent No.3 (Superintendent of Police, Udupi) to grant permission for the 'Festival of Peace' event on 20-22 March 2026 at Christian P.U. College Ground, Mission Compound, Udupi, and prov

Fellowship of Udupi District… — Constitutional and Fundamental Rights | Karnataka HC (2026)

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NC: 2026:KHC:16017 WP No. 9112 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 9112 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE)

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BETWEEN:

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FELLOWSHIP OF UDUPI DISTRICT CHURCHES (A REGISTERED TRUST ) REG NO. UDP, 4-00209-2014-15 REPRESENTED BY ITS TRUSTEE MR. PRASHANTHA RAJAN JATHANNA HAVING ADDRESS AT BETHEL PENTECOSTAL CHURCH AJJARKAD UDUPI - 576 101.

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI. TIMOTHY CHARLES, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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Digitally signed by NAGARAJA B M Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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STATE OF KARNATAKA

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REP BY THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY HOME DEPARTMENT, ROOM NO. 222 2^ND FLOOR, VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU - 560 001.

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DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE KARNATAKA STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS NO.2, NRUPATHUNGA ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001.

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THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE DISTRICT POLICE OFFICE

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NC: 2026:KHC:16017 WP No. 9112 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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BANNANJE UDUPI - 576 101.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. VIKAS ROJIPURA, AGA)

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THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO DIRECT RESPONDENT NO.3 TO GRANT PERMISSION FOR CONDUCTING THE EVENT TITLED "FESTIVAL OF PEACE" SCHEDULED ON 20/03/2026, 21/03/2026 AND 22/03/2026 AT CHRISTIAN PU COLLEGE GROUND, MISSION COMPOUND, UDUPI.

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THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM

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ORAL ORDER

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The present writ petition is filed seeking issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing respondent No.3 to grant permission to conduct an event titled “Festival of Peace” scheduled to be held on 20.03.2026, 21.03.2026 and 22.03.2026 at Christian P.U. College Ground, Mission Compound, Udupi. The petitioner also seeks consequential directions to the respondents to provide adequate

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3 - NC: 2026:KHC:16017 WP No. 9112 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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police protection to ensure the peaceful and

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uninterrupted conduct of the said event.

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Learned Additional Government Advocate,

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on instructions, submits that the speaker proposed to be invited by the petitioner has certain antecedents, which had led to the registration of a criminal case. It is further submitted that the said proceedings came to be closed only after the speaker tendered an unconditional apology and furnished an undertaking before the High Court of Chennai, in exercise of powers under Section 482 of Cr.P.C.

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Per contra, learned counsel for the

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petitioner, on instructions, submits that the said speaker had participated in a similar “Festival of Peace” held at Bengaluru and that his speeches on the said occasion were strictly in conformity with the undertaking furnished before the High Court of

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4 - NC: 2026:KHC:16017 WP No. 9112 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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Chennai. It is further submitted that the speaker is willing to file a detailed affidavit before the Superintendent of Police, Udupi, undertaking to adhere to the terms of the earlier undertaking and to ensure that no untoward incident arises on account of his speech.

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Taking note of the aforesaid submissions

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and the assurance extended by the petitioner, this Court proceeds to pass the following:

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ORDER

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(i) The writ petition is hereby allowed.

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(ii) Respondent No.3 is directed to grant permission for conducting the event titled “Festival of Peace” scheduled on 20th, 21st and

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22nd March, 2026 at Christian P.U. College Ground, Mission Compound, Udupi, and to

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5 - NC: 2026:KHC:16017 WP No. 9112 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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provide adequate police protection for the

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smooth and peaceful conduct of the said event.

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(iii) The grant of such permission shall be subject to the condition that the speaker invited by the petitioner shall file an affidavit before respondent No.3, undertaking to strictly adhere to the terms of the undertaking earlier furnished before the High Court of Chennai and to ensure that his speech does not give rise to any law and order issues.

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(iv) Learned Additional Government Advocate is permitted to communicate this order forthwith to respondent No.3 for immediate compliance.

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Hand delivery ordered.

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ALB List No.: 4 Sl No.: 5

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SD/(SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE

Fellowship of Udupi District Churches v. State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Fellowship of Udupi District Churches v. State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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