Suspense over: Ratha Jatra to be held in Puri with restrictions

Bhubaneswar: Bringing cheers to billions of devotees of Lord Jagannath across the world, the Supreme Court today gave its consent for holding of annual Ratha Jatra in Puri.

Hearing an application filed by Principal Resident Commissioner In-charge of Odisha Government, Sanjeeb Mishra, seeking modification of SC’s previous order on cancellation of Ratha Jatra, the three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Justice SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari  Bobde allowed the annual Ratha Jatra to be held only in Puri. 

The court directed the Centre and Odisha Government to work in tandem.

The State Government can even stop Ratha Jatra or festivities if they feel it is going out of hand, the CJI said.

While issuing final order, the court said, “By our June 18 we had stayed the respondents from holding rath yatra this year in view of COVID19 and an anticipated gathering of 10 to 12 lakh devotees for 10 to 12 days. Clearly any spread of COVID19 due to this will be disastrous since large numbers are involved… …and it was not possible to track all the people infected after they have gone back to their respective homes. While we do not have the official copy of the gazettee itself, we are informed in 18th and 19th century a yatra of this kind was responsible to contain…”

Ahead of hearing, the Centre and Odisha Government had told the Supreme Court that the annual car festival can happen without participation of devotees.

The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, told the apex court on ban on Puri Ratha Jatra that if the age-old tradition of Lord Jagannath was broken on Tuesday then as per norm, the Ratha Jatra cannot be held for next 12 years. He mentioned it before a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, after a bench put a ban on the Rath Yatra last week.

Mehta contended before the bench that the tradition of centuries may not be stopped. “It’d be a matter of faith for crores of people. If Lord Jagannath will not come out tomorrow, he cannot come out for 12 years as per traditions.

“While maintaining the precautions to ensure that the pandemic is not spread further, the state government can impose curfew for a day.”

He emphasized that all sevayats and pandas who are tested negative can participate in rituals as may be decided by Puri Shankracharya. The apex court had earlier banned all related activities to Rath Jatra festival.

“People may not congregate. Rather they can seek blessings on TV during live telecast.

“Raja of Puri and the temple committee may supervise arrangements of the rituals,” Mehta submitted before the bench.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the Odisha government, contended that he agrees with the Centre to conduct the Rath Jatra with certain precautions.  Later, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the modification applications later in the day.

Total 16 applications had been moved in the apex court on behalf of individuals and NGOs seeking permission for the Ratha Jatra without congregation.

Yesterday, BJP leader Sambit Patra had filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking recall of its June 18 order, which put a stay on the Puri Rath Yatra citing Covid pandemic. In his plea, he had sought permission from the apex court for holding the yatra without congregation of devotees by using services of Lord Jagannath’s 800 sevayats, all of whom have tested negative for COVID-19.

The world famous 9-day-long sojourn is scheduled to begin from June 23. However, according to the last week ruling by the SC, the Ratha Jatra and all other activities associated with the event in other places except Puri will stand cancelled.

On June 18, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde took the step amid rising cases of the Coronavirus in the country that has now crossed 4.25 lakh cases and nearing 14,000 deaths.

 

 

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