Propriety and secularism in question as Karnataka courts host Ganesh celebrations

The annual Ganesh Chathurthi events organised on the premises of the Karnataka High Court and the City Civil Court have upset a section of Bengaluru’s advocates for several reasons. Many have questioned the propriety of such a celebration at the court premises, and others feel that the event was ostentatious, undermining the profession's dignity. A few pointed out that a Ganesha idol was installed in the court despite a court circular prohibiting it. This uneasiness comes at a time when DY Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India, is being criticised for inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his house for a Ganesh pooja. 

A five-day Ganesh Chathurthi event, starting on September 7, was organised by the Advocates’ Association of Bengaluru at the Association Hall No 1, within the High Court (HC) premises. A similar three-day event was organised on the premises of the City Civil Court but on a smaller scale. 

Vivek Subba Reddy, president of the Advocates’ Association, said that they raised money for the event from the 30,000 members of the association. “Each day we served food to around 12,000 lawyers, litigants, and court staff,” Vivek said, adding that the association has also been organising Ram Navami annually for the past 30 years. 

However, over three decades, the two annual Ganesh Chathurthi events in Bengaluru have increased in scale and grandeur, according to advocates who spoke to TNM. 

“First, the celebrations used to be on the ground floor, then it moved to the cellar, and now it is in the hall allotted to the Association. The tradition has been around since I started practising in Bengaluru around 30 years ago, and it isn’t the only one organised on the High Court premises. The Advocates’ Clerks Association and high court staff also organise their own celebrations within the HC premises,” a senior advocate told TNM. 

This year, a Ganesh idol was set up on a stage decorated with lights and flowers at the HC. This violates the court’s own circular prohibiting the installation of idols on court premises. In several photos of the event, a priest can be seen handing out prasada or performing arathi. Cultural programmes were also part of the celebrations. 

Sumalatha (name changed), an advocate practising in the HC, told TNM that even if one were to accept the celebrations on the court premises, the amount of money spent on it could not be justified. "Earlier, it was on a small scale. It was quiet. Now it has been glamorized and turned into an obscene show of wealth. It has now become more about who has contributed how much,” she said.

While the celebrations at the HC were solemn, many advocates were scathing with what transpired at the City Civil Court premises. On the day of the idol immersion, celebrations at the Civil Court started at 3 pm—during court hours. Videos of the celebrations show advocates – some wearing saffron turbans – dancing energetically to loud music with colourful lights twinkling in the background. In one video, association president Vivek Subba Reddy can be seen raised on the shoulders of other advocates.