Bengaluru, 14 August

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said prior permission would be mandatory to hold programmes on public property, amid a controversy over a proposed Bill regulating its use.

His remarks came after the state Cabinet approved The Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026, which seeks to regulate the use of government premises and public property by private individuals, organisations, associations and societies.

“Permission is required for everyone,” Shivakumar told reporters on Thursday night when asked whether the Cabinet had discussed requiring the RSS to obtain permission to conduct its programmes.

“There has been no specific discussion about any particular organisation or institution. However, it is customary for anyone, whether a political party or an organisation, to inform the police and obtain permission before conducting a programme. This helps the police make the necessary security arrangements,” he said.

The CM said the requirement would apply even to government-backed events.

“Freedom Habba is being organised under the leadership of Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, and permission must be obtained for that as well,” he said.

Freedom Habba, a citizen-led Independence Day festival in Bengaluru, seeks to turn August 15 into a public celebration of the city's cultural diversity, featuring music, food and a people's parade near Vidhana Soudha.

Home Minister Priyank Kharge, in a post on X, said the Bill would provide a legal framework for the responsible use of government land, buildings, playgrounds, parks, roads and other public assets and prevent their misuse.

“Why is everyone thinking this is to curtail or curb any particular institution, association, organisation, society, club, union, syndicate or NGO? Beats me,” he said.

The development comes amid reports that the legislation is aimed at preventing unregistered organisations, particularly the RSS, from holding events on public property without prior permission.