3-Year Jail Term For Using Public Spaces Without Permission

The Karnataka government has proposed a law that could lead to a 3-year jail term and fine for using public properties and spaces without permission. The Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026, has been cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet and is expected to be tabled in the ongoing Monsoon session.

The bill requires permission for any organisation or individual to use public properties and spaces, including government land, buildings, roads, parks, playgrounds, water bodies, and other properties controlled by the government, authorities, or local bodies. Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the bill does not target any organisation, political party, or NGO, and is intended to create a legal framework for using government land and public assets.

However, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has argued that the proposed legislation is an attempt to target the RSS, and has stated that he and other advocates will challenge the legislation in court if it becomes law. The bill comes in the backdrop of controversy over the RSS holding activities on government premises, and the organisation's Patha Sanchalana to mark its 100th anniversary in multiple places.

## What the bill means The bill will replace an earlier Government Order that has been stayed by the Karnataka High Court. It seeks to make permission mandatory for any organisation or individual to seek government's permission to use public properties and spaces. The government has emphasized that the bill is not aimed at curbing the activities of any specific organisation, but rather at regulating the use of public spaces.

## Why it matters The proposed law has sparked concerns of a face-off with the RSS, and has raised questions about the balance between regulating public spaces and protecting the rights of organisations and individuals to use them. The bill's wide definition of public property and its requirement for permission could have significant implications for the way public spaces are used in Karnataka, and could potentially lead to conflicts between the government and organisations that use these spaces.

The outcome of the bill's passage and potential challenges in court remain to be seen, but it is clear that the proposed law has the potential to have a significant impact on the use of public spaces in Karnataka.