India, April 18 -- The Karnataka high court has pulled up the state government for permitting a protest against the new law regulating and managing Islamic charitable endowments or waqf, even as the Supreme Court is hearing petitions challenging its constitutional validity. It said the government had no right to sanction the protest when the issue is sub judice.

Justice M Nagaprasanna on Thursday questioned how the state could allow demonstrations on an issue currently under the Supreme Court's consideration. "What protest are you permitting now when the apex court is hearing the matter?"

The high court said the top court has expressed displeasure at similar protests, including in West Bengal's communal violence-hit Murshidabad. "Being ...