PRAVEEN BAI THOGADIA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner has challenged the impugned order passed by the District Magistrate, Belgaum, debarring him for a period of 15 days from 6 a. m. on 12. 2. 03 to 6 a. m. on 26. 2. 2003. The petitioner is invited to attend a function held under the name `virat Hindu Mela' organised by the Vishwa HIndu Parishath and the Bajarang Dal, on 16. 2. 2003 at 4. 30 p. m. in Belgaum. The District Magistrate, Belgaum, taking cognizance of the visit of the petitioner has passed the impugned order debarring his entry.

(2.) SRI V. Y. Kumar, for the State has produced the report of Superintendent of Police and referred to to impugned order at Annexure -A, showing the number of criminal cases of communal violence registered in Belgaum. It is said that on the occasion of `ganesh Festival' on 10. 9. 2002, there was a desecration of temple and mosque, resulting in communal violence. In para-4 of the impugned order, the District Magistrate precisely states that about 19 criminal cases have been registered as against as many as 243 persons relating to the incident.

(3.) SRI V. Y. Kumar, has also produced Annexure-C, referred to in Para-4 of the impugned order and the reports published in OUT LOOK, India. com, HINDU, dealing with the coduct of the petitioner in different parts of the country about his critical and hard-line approach on sensitive issues, contended that only yesterday notice is served on him and within 24 hours, the State is not able to collect necessary materials to file the statement of objection in support of the order. Hence, seeks adjournment till Monday i. e. on 17. 2. 2003.