The Karnataka High Court has dismissed petitions challenging the state government's decision to invite Booker Prize-winning writer Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the Mysuru Dasara festival, which is scheduled to begin on September 22, 2025. The division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi, stated that inviting a person of a different faith to inaugurate a government-organized function does not violate any legal or constitutional rights, nor does it infringe upon the values enshrined in the Constitution.

The petitions were filed by former BJP Member of Parliament Pratap Simha and three others, H S Gaurav, T Girishkumar, and R Sowmya. They requested the court to direct the government to withdraw the invitation to Banu Mushtaq, arguing that as a Muslim, she should not be allowed to inaugurate the Dasara festivities, which they claimed should take place according to Hindu rituals. The petitioners also sought a declaration that Mysuru Dasara is an inseparable part of Hindu religious rituals.

The opposition to Mushtaq's invitation stemmed from claims that she had made statements perceived as "anti-Hindu culture" in the past. Specifically, BJP leaders highlighted an old video where she reportedly expressed reservations about worshipping the Kannada language as "Goddess Bhuvaneshwari," arguing that it was exclusionary to minorities. Mushtaq refuted these claims, asserting that her statements had been distorted by selectively circulating parts of an old speech on social media.

Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty, representing the state government, argued that the Dasara festival is a state festival open to all people. He also pointed out that the selection of guests is made by a committee comprising local MPs and MLAs. He appealed for the dismissal of the petitions and urged the court to impose heavy costs on the petitioners. While the court dismissed the petitions, it declined to impose costs.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had previously announced Mushtaq as the inaugurator of the Nada Habba (state festival) Dasara celebrations in Mysuru, which traditionally commence with rituals at the Chamundi Hill temple. Simha had objected to the invitation, stating that the tradition has always been tied to devotion to Goddess Chamundi. He questioned whether Mushtaq believes in Goddess Chamundi or has ever followed Hindu customs. Mushtaq was invited by the Mysuru district administration on September 3, despite the initial objections.

The High Court initially declined an urgent hearing on the petitions, scheduling the matter to be heard within a standard four-day window. The petitioners' counsel had submitted a memo seeking an expedited hearing, emphasizing the urgency due to the inauguration date being September 22. The court's final decision to dismiss the petitions underscores the secular nature of the Dasara festival as viewed by the government and the judiciary.