Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday dismissed three petitions opposing the state government’s decision to invite Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the Mysuru Dasara festival. One of the petitions had been filed by BJP MP Pratap Simha.

A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi ruled that there was no legal bar on inviting a person of another faith to preside over a state function. The judges added that the petitioner’s constitutional and legal rights had not been infringed.

Appearing for the government, Advocate General Shashi Kirna Shetty told the court that Dasara was a state festival attended by people of all communities. He pointed out that a 62-member invitation committee, which included legislators across parties, had collectively decided to invite Mushtaq.

Simha’s counsel, advocate S Sudharsan, argued that as Dasara had its origins in Hindu tradition, it should be inaugurated by a Hindu. He also referred to remarks allegedly made by Mushtaq two years ago, calling them “anti-Kannada,” and claimed that involving a non-Hindu in rituals went against cultural practice.

The bench rejected these arguments, observing that attempts were being made to portray the issue as a Hindu–Muslim divide. It noted that Vijayadashami, which marks the conclusion of Dasara, is celebrated nationwide as the triumph of good over evil, and cannot be reduced to a purely religious event.

The court said the objections were rooted more in personal opinion than in questions of law. While refusing to impose costs on the petitioner, the judges clarified that they had considered the case solely on the grounds of legal rights.

By upholding the invitation to Mushtaq, the High Court reaffirmed India’s secular values, stressing that state-supported cultural festivals are public celebrations meant for all communities.