MAHILA JAGRAN MANCH BANGALORE Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A letter addressed by mahila jagran, a society established with the intention of upholding the cause of women in various spheres of life, has been ordered to be registered as a writ petition. The prayers in this public interest litigation are: (a) a direction to the second respondent ('abcl' for short) not to hold or host "miss world, 1996" contest anywhere in India including Bangalore; (b) a direction to the first respondent not to permit any of its departments to provide any facilities or co-operation, for the holding of such beauty pageant; a direction to the first respondent to recover charges for use of the press conference hall at vidhana soudha, from second respondent; and a direction to first and second respondents to tender an apology for announcing the event from vidhana soudha; (c) a direction to the third respondent not to allow the second respondent to host the miss world contest, in the chinnaswamy stadium; (d) a writ of prohibition by issue of a blanket ban on conducting miss world contest and stop spreading of aids by men and women of other countries, who will visit India in connection with such an event; and (e) a direction that no visas should be issued to any person who wants to visit India in connection with the miss world contest.

(2.) THE petitioner contends that holding of the miss world contest is opposed to bharatiya samskriti and culture. Petitioner apprehended that holding of such a pageant in Bangalore will bring criminal gangs to Bangalore, thereby increasing flesh trade and trade in narcotics in Bangalore. Petitioner also feels that it will also lead to spreading of aids as many visitors from foreign countries visiting this country in connection with the pageant may be carriers of the disease. Petitioner also believes that if such pageant is permitted to be held, it will bring in a wave of crime against women. The petitioner is also concerned that the event may further strain the already thinly spread infrastructural facilities relating to water, electricity and other essential services in Bangalore and lead to shortages, power failures, break in security arrangements, increase in thefts, etc. It is apprehended that television coverage of the event will poison the minds of the Indian youth. It is lastly contended that the said contest will violate Section 292 of the IPC.

(3.) ABCL has filed its statement. It contends that lack of information and a misconception of the ambit and scope of miss world beauty contest on the part of the petitioner, has led to the petition. It is stated that miss world contest originated in 1951 in the united kingdom as a promotional event to focus attention on the festival of britain. Though initially, it only related to beauty, in or about 1961, a charity element was introduced and considerable part of the monies collected are donated to charity, for upliftment of children, all over the world. Mr. Eric morley and his wife, Mrs. Julia morley, who conceived and created the event, took over the organisation relating to the pageant in or about 1969 and extended the fund raising to the rest of the world and now, the contest relates to 'beauty with a purpose'. The object of the contest is not just to select the most beautiful girl, but to select the most talented and most beautiful girl and to raise funds for children's charities. The contest is not a simple beauty competition. It ensures that the participants display discipline in their conduct both in public and private. It is pointed out that the persons who participate in the contest include doctors, lawyers and other professionals. It is stated that there is neither obscenity nor vulgarity in the contest. It is contended that the entire pageant is conducted in an artistic, decent, tasteful manner; and that it is a well organised and regulated event. It is, therefore, contended that the apprehension voiced by the petitioner in the petition is baseless and that it is impermissible for any group of self-appointed moralists to interfere with the staging of an event of great magnitude which is a tribute to the beauty and intelligence of women.