Posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 - 11:37 am:

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Kingaa_bongaa:

1921 lo prayers cheskondi raa ani konchem place ichinappudu 70 yrs neat gaa ne cheskunnaaru, 1990 ki mind lo ki purugulu elluntaayi paki gaalla influence tho, inka sandhu ichaaru kadhaa dooreddaam anukoni vuntaaru. reverse doorchaaru ippudu vaallaki.

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Posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 - 09:13 am:

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Dharmam:

Enti izil vestunnavu, Idga maidan muslim de nani Parliament bill pedataru all set

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Andhrawala:

Minority manobhaavaalu debba thinnayyi ee theerpu tho

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Posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 - 06:19 am:

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Dharmam:

Enti izil vestunnavu, Idga maidan muslim de nani Parliament bill pedataru all set

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Posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 - 02:24 am:

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Kamal:

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Posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 - 01:08 am:

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Kamal:

Soon after the news spread, RSS and other Hindu organizations held celebrations in front of the maidan in Hubli. RSS leader Shridhar Nadiger demanded that HDMC authorities should hoist the national flag at the maidan on Republic Day (January 26) and Independence Day (August 15).

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Posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 - 01:03 am:

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quote:

HUBLI: With the Supreme Court ruling that the Idgah Maidan was the exclusive property of the HDMC, one of the longest-running legal battles in Karnataka was settled on Wednesday.

A Bench comprising Dalveer Bhandari and A K Patnaik dismissed an appeal by Anjuman e-Islam (AeI) against the high court order in the 40-year-old case. The Bench upheld the order of the high court that had, in turn, upheld a trial court's order.

The HC had held that the maidan was the exclusive property of the HDMC and that the AeI had a licence to hold prayers in the grounds twice a year. It also said the licence did not allow the AeI to build any permanent structures on the maidan and directed the HDMC to demolish the commercial complex built by AeI there. The AeI had challenged the HC judgment and sought rights to maintain the maidan.

When the hearing began on Wednesday, the AeI counsel submitted that they be given the right to maintain the maidan. However, Justice Bhandari said the Bench would dismiss the petition. The AeI counsel said this would mean they had lost the case. Refuting this, Justice Patnaik said: "You have virtually won the case. But if you don't want us to dismiss the case, you withdraw it." When they refused to withdraw it, the Bench dismissed it.

However, the Bench did not agree to AeI counsel's argument that the agreement between the HDMC and the Idgah Maidan be termed as lease and not licence. "By no stretch of imagination it can be called a lease," Justice Bhandari said.

Soon after the news spread, RSS and other Hindu organizations held celebrations in front of the maidan in Hubli. RSS leader Shridhar Nadiger demanded that HDMC authorities should hoist the national flag at the maidan on Republic Day (January 26) and Independence Day (August 15).

THE AGREEMENT

AeI had obtained rights to perform mass prayers on the maidan twice a year, in 1921. The agreement is valid for 999 years. The nature of the agreement, however, has been contested. Controversy erupted when the AiE tried to build a commercial complex on the maidan in 1972. B S Shettar and 105 others challenged this in the court. The HC held that the maidan was not the property of AeI and directed the authorities to demolish the complex. AeI appealed against this in the Supreme Court.

In their petition, Shettar and others had pleaded that the agreement be termed a licence and not a lease. They had also pleaded that the general public be given a customary right to use it. All these issues have been resolved with the Wednesday's judgment.

CHANGING POLITICAL EQUATIONS

The Idgah Maidan dispute has been a game changer in the politics of the twin cities. Many politicians like MP Prahlad Joshi, minister Jagadish Shettar and former MLA Ashok Katwe kick-started their career with the issue. It also significantly contributed to the political growth of MP Ananth Kumar.

Some analysts would say the Idgah controversy contributed to the spread of the BJP's influence in north Karnataka. Joshi, who is supporting the petitioners, said this was the happiest day in his life. "I have been supporting the petitioners since 1993. This is a victory for several activists who fought for the cause and lawyers who pleaded the case," he said.

Timeline

1921 AeI signs agreement with Hubli municipality for using the 1.5-acre land for prayers

1990 AeI builds a commercial complex in the maidan

1992 B S Shettar and others file a petition against the construction

1994 District and sessions court directs HDMC to demolish the complex

1994 AeI appeals against this order in the high court

1994 Six persons killed in police shooting

1997 AeI hoists national flag on the ground after the then CM H D Deve Gowda intervenes

1995 High court upholds the district court order

1995 AeI approaches SC

2004 SC directs the two parties to settle the issue amicably by holding talks

2004 A committee headed by Moorusavira Mutt Swami formed to settle the issue amicably

2004 Madhya Pradesh CM Uma Bharati, who led the Idgah Maidan liberation movement, issued non-bailable warrant by Hubli magistrate court. She resigns and surrenders before the court.

2009 HDMC submits a petition to the SC, saying talks fail

2009 Families of those killed in the shooting compensated

2010 SC upholds the HC order.

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