📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensi
Politics
Karnataka Announces Permission Required for Private Use of Public Spaces
✍️ India Today
🗓 14 Aug 2026, 12:03 PM
👁 24
The Karnataka government has declared that any private use of public spaces will now need official permission, a move that some say targets the RSS.
The Karnataka government has issued a directive stating that private use of public spaces will now require official permission. The announcement, released by the state’s Home Department, applies to all public parks, roads, and government buildings where private events or gatherings are planned.
Officials say the new rule aims to curb unauthorized use of public venues and ensure that such spaces are used responsibly. The directive also outlines a simple application process and a fee structure for obtaining the necessary approvals.
Some observers suggest that the policy may be aimed at limiting the activities of the RSS and its affiliated groups, which have previously organized large gatherings in public parks. The government has not confirmed any specific target.
The move has sparked debate among civil society groups, with some praising the effort to regulate public space usage, while others warn that it could restrict freedom of assembly if not implemented transparently.
Officials say the new rule aims to curb unauthorized use of public venues and ensure that such spaces are used responsibly. The directive also outlines a simple application process and a fee structure for obtaining the necessary approvals.
Some observers suggest that the policy may be aimed at limiting the activities of the RSS and its affiliated groups, which have previously organized large gatherings in public parks. The government has not confirmed any specific target.
The move has sparked debate among civil society groups, with some praising the effort to regulate public space usage, while others warn that it could restrict freedom of assembly if not implemented transparently.