BANGALORE: Miffed by the refusal of the state government to accord permission fo holding a 10-day Bangalore Book Festival, the Bangalore Bookselleres and publishers association has moved the Karnataka high court seeking a direction to the state government.
Justice A S Bopanna, who heard the petition, ordered notice to the state government and Indrakshi Devi, a member of Mysore Royal family. The petitioners, who are contemplating to hold a 10-day “Bangalore Book Festival – 2013″ from February 28,2014 to March 09,2014 at the Palace grounds, have challenged the November 26,2013 endorsement given by the authorities stating that permission cannot be granted beyond three days.
The petitioners have contended that the state government has adopted a discriminatory stand with which the applications are weighed for the purposes of granting /rejection of the permission for events. ” There are instances where political rallies are held despite the concerned plot had already been permitted to host one or other functions and there are instances where the events are permitted to be conducted for a period of five days to one year .There are instances where permission have been accorded by the State Government without reference to the contemplated guidelines of December 21,2012 ” the petitioners have further stated.
