The Karnataka High Court's Darwad bench has on September 15 rejected a plea by Anjuman-E-Islam Hubballi against the recent resolution of the Hubballi-Dharwad Mahanagara Palike (HDMP) allowing the installation of Ganesh idol at Idgah Maidan in Hubballi.

A single-judge bench of Justice Sachinkumar Magadum heard the case and dismissed the appeal.

Following the court's order, Palike commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi accorded permission for Ganesha festivities at the maidan.

The officer handed over the ‘conditional’ permission letter to Rani Channamma Maidan Gajanan Utsav Mahamandali President Sanjeev Badaskar to hold the festival for three days.

The Anjuman-E-Islam had filed a petition in the High Court on Thursday seeking a stay on the HDMP general body’s resolution allowing installation of Ganesh idol at Idgah Maidan.

Notably, the Supreme Court had last year said that the Idgah Maidan is the HDMP’s property, and apart from allowing Muslims to perform Namaz on two occasions in a year, the maidan could be used for any other legitimate purpose.

The Palike had subsequently allowed the installation of Ganesh idol in the maidan, last year.

Leader of Opposition in the HDMP Suvarna Kallakuntla had also moved the High Court against the passing of three subjects by the HDMP in its general body meeting, including the Ganesh idol installation at Idgah Maidan. She claimed that the additional list was introduced without bringing it to the notice of the Opposition members.

The BJP, led by Hubballi-Dharwad West MLA Arvind Bellad, along with Hindu groups, including Sri Rama Sene, had reportedly launched an indefinite protest on Thursday over the delay by the HDMP Commissioner in issuing the permission for installation of Ganesh idol at Idgah Maidan.