The High Court has directed the Kodagu deputy commissioner to decide by October 15 whether DJ sound systems can be used during the Madikeri Dasara procession, after instructing opponents of the request to submit their objections to the district administration by October 12.
The direction came while disposing of a writ petition filed by Pandira T. Poonacha, president of the Dasara Dashamantapa Committee. The petition sought permission to use DJ loudspeakers during the procession of tableaux planned as part of the annual Madikeri Dasara celebrations.
A single-judge bench headed by Justice C.M. Poonacha said the deputy commissioner must consider the committee’s representation in accordance with law. The court also recorded that some people had approached it requesting that the representation not be accepted. Those objectors have been given time until October 12 to submit their views to the deputy commissioner.
The district administration must then consider both the committee’s request and the objections before taking a decision by October 15. The court’s order sets a clear administrative timeline but does not itself grant permission for the use of DJ equipment.
According to the petition, the Madikeri town procession has been held during the Dasara festival for the past 40 years. This year’s celebrations are scheduled for October 21 and 22. The procession will feature tableaux representing the concepts of 10 local temple committees brought together under the Dasara Dashamantapa Committee.
The temples named in the petition include Karavale Bhagavathi Mahisha Mardini Temple and Kunduru Motte Chowti Mariyamma Temple. The committee had requested permission to use DJ sound amplification during the festival programme, but told the court that no approval had been received from the government even after 15 days.
The proceedings place the decision with the Kodagu district administration, which must now process the request and the objections together. This means the final position on DJ use at the procession will be determined through the deputy commissioner’s order rather than through the court’s direction alone.
The issue illustrates the administrative coordination required for large public festivals, where organisers’ requests for sound and procession facilities must be considered alongside objections submitted by other residents or stakeholders. In this case, the court has required both sides to place their positions before the district authority within specified deadlines.
The Dasara Dashamantapa Committee’s request will be considered with the objections received by October 12, and the deputy commissioner has been directed to issue a decision by October 15, ahead of the celebrations scheduled for October 21 and 22.
