Puri Ratha Jatra: Intervention applications listed for hearing in SC

Bhubaneswar: Multiple intervention applications filed in the Supreme Court seeking partial modification in its previous order of disallowing Ratha Jatra in Odisha’s Puri were today listed for hearing on June 22 at 11 am.

The hearing by Justice S. Ravindra Bhat is scheduled to take place through videoconferencing at Virtual Court no. 3.

The Supreme Court’s ruling came on a plea by an NGO seeking direction to stay the holding of the festival. The plea filed by NGO Odisha Vikas Parishad claimed that presently the entire nation including Odisha is facing an unprecedented situation due to Covid-19, where the lives of the common people are at a huge risk.

The plea cited the May 7 letter issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, which granted permission to the state government to carry out the construction of chariots for the conducting of the Ratha Jatra subject to the condition that no religious congregation takes place while it is constructed and adherence to stipulations provided in the guideline issued on May 1.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and A.S. Bopanna, said such gatherings cannot take place during the ongoing pandemic. “Lord Jagannath won’t forgive us if we allow it.”

“Having regard to the danger presented by such a large gathering of people for the Rath Yatra, we consider it appropriate in the interests of public health and safety of citizens who are devotees to restrain the respondents from holding the Rath Yatra this year.

“We accordingly direct that there shall be no Rath Yatra anywhere in the temple town of Odisha or in any other part of the state this year. We further direct that there shall be no activities secular or religious associated with the Rath Yatra during this period,” said the top court.

Also read- SC Ruling On Puri Ratha Jatra: Artisans Shed Tears.