RSS route march in Chittapur between 3 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. on Sunday

After a series of meetings and legal cases, Chittapur Tahsildar Nagayya Hiremath has granted conditional permission to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to carry out its centenary route march in Chittapur town on Sunday.

The decision comes following a meeting convened at the office of the Advocate-General in Bengaluru, as directed by the High Court.

The permission order, issued on Wednesday, states that the route march and public programme will be held between 3 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. on Sunday.

Participation has been capped at 300 persons, all of whom must be residents of Chittapur taluk.

Only 25 members will be allowed to accompany the procession with a band. The organisers are required to submit the names, addresses and phone numbers of all participants to the police a day in advance.

The route of the march has been strictly defined – starting from Bajaj Kalyan Mantap and passing through the Bus Stand, Ambedkar Circle, Government Library, Basava Hospital, Raghavendra Khanavali, Kashi Galli Ganesh Temple, Canara Bank, Taluk Panchayat Office, Government PU College and Basaveshwar Circle before returning to Bajaj Kalyan Mantap.

The order prohibits deviation from this route or holding speeches in public places outside the designated venue.

The Tahsildar has also said that the programme should be confined to the premises of Bajaj Kalyan Mantap and that no political or provocative speeches, slogans or displays be made.

The organisers must provide details of 10 responsible people who will ensure that no untoward incidents occur. Any banners or buntings displayed must have prior permission from the competent authorities and should not carry inflammatory messages.

The order clarifies that permission is being granted for only once, based on the discussions gone through in the peace meetings chaired by the Deputy Commissioner and later at the Advocate-General’s office in Bengaluru, as per the directions of the High Court in Kalaburagi.

It further states that the order should not be treated as a precedent for future cases or as a determination of any legal rights of the parties involved.

The permission for the route march marks the culmination of weeks of controversy and legal proceedings.

The RSS earlier approached the High Court after the local administration denied permission for the event citing law and order concerns.

Following the court’s intervention, peace meetings were held on October 28 in Kalaburagi and on November 5 in Bengaluru to bring together representatives of all applicant organisations and district officials.

The present order comes as an administrative follow-up to those deliberations.