New Delhi, Sept. 19 -- The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition challenging the Karnataka government's decision to invite Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq as the Chief Guest to inaugurate the Dasara festivities in Mysuru.
A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta refused to interfere with the Karnataka High Court's order of September 15, which upheld the government's invitation.
"What is the Preamble of this country? This is a state program.. how can the state distinguish between A, B and C?" the bench observed while rejecting the plea.
Despite repeated submissions by the petitioners' counsel, who argued that temple rituals during Dasara are religious in nature and that inviting Mushtaq,who had allegedly made "...