India, Oct. 28 -- The Karnataka high court on Tuesday stayed the state government from enforcing its controversial order restricting gatherings of more than 10 people in public or government-owned spaces, including parks, playgrounds, and roads.

This government order (GO) was "prima facie, a clear violation of citizens' fundamental rights" guaranteed under the Constitution and could not be allowed to continue to operate, said justice M Nagaprasanna of the high court's Dharawad bench.

The court made it clear that the government could not bypass legislative processes to impose restrictions through administrative orders and stayed the order's operation as an interim measure. The state government has been told to file its response to the pe...