India, Sept. 19 -- The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the Karnataka government's decision to invite Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq as the chief guest for the inauguration of the historic Dasara festival in Mysuru on September 22, stressing that India's constitutional framework celebrates multiculturalism and diversity.

A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refused to interfere with the Karnataka high court's ruling earlier this week that had rejected similar petitions, including one filed by the present petitioner HS Gaurav.

"What is the Preamble of this country? This is not a personal event but a State event. Why should the state discriminate between its own people?" the bench told senior...