Garba Passes Sold, Yet Permission Pending: Organiser Approaches Gujarat HC

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat High Court on Monday directed the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Kalol to appear before it on Tuesday and explain why permission had not been granted to a Garba organiser who applied well in advance for the event. The organiser had already sold passes but had yet to receive official approval.

Sagar Parekh approached the High Court after submitting an application to the Kalol mamlatdar on September 28, seeking permission to organise a Navratri event from October 11 to 20.

The SDM wrote to the deputy superintendent of police (DySP) concerned the following day, seeking an opinion on the application. On October 1, the police officer forwarded the matter to the Santej police inspector, asking for an opinion within three days.

However, Parekh received no communication regarding the permission. With passes already sold for the event, he moved the High Court on Monday, seeking an urgent hearing.

During the hearing before Justice Nisha Thakore, the state government sought two days to respond. Parekh’s lawyer, however, highlighted the urgency, pointing out that passes had already been issued, and sought temporary permission to hold the event until the authorities made a final decision.

Considering the urgency, the High Court directed the government lawyer to obtain the necessary instructions and ordered the SDM to appear in person with the relevant records on October 13. DeshGujarat