Karnataka cabinet approves bill requiring prior approval for private events on public land

In Bengaluru, the Karnataka cabinet approved the Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026, mandating that organizers secure government permission before holding private events, rallies or meetings on state-owned sites. The legislation, slated for introduction during the ongoing Monsoon session, will cover all public gatherings, including RSS "baithaks" and route marches, effectively superseding an earlier executive order that the Karnataka High Court had halted.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar emphasized that the rule is universal and not targeted at any particular party or organization, noting that even his minister Krishna Byre Gowda obtained clearance for the Freedom Habba event. The move is viewed as an effort by the Congress-led state government to curb the RSS’s use of public property for its activities. The bill seeks to formalise documentation and prevent unregulated use of streets and public spaces. It reflects ongoing tensions between the state administration and the RSS over the latter’s public gatherings.