Puri Rath Yatra Chances Brighten: SC To Hear Ban Modification Petitions

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Chances of Rath Yatra being conducted in Puri, the original seat ( moola peetha) of Lord Jagannath, in a limited way without any congregation of general public brightened with the Supreme Court on Monday agreeing to hear applications, seeking modification of blanket ban on the June 23 event.

The Centre mentioned Rath Yatra issue before a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra and said that it can be held without the participation of the general public.

Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta told the SC that rituals, which have been going on for centuries should not be disrupted. He suggested that the entire Rath Yatra can be telecasted live. “If Lord Jagannath will not come out tomorrow, he cannot come out for 12 years as per traditions. While maintaining precautions to ensure that pandemic is not spread, the Odisha government can impose curfew for a day,” he said.

Following which, the apex court said that it will hear the issue after 30 minutes.

The Odisha government has referred to the suggestion of Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb and the Shankaracharya for holding limited Rath Yatra in its affidavit before the SC. Counsel Harish Salve said the government will assist in the limited Rath Yatra by providing adequate police and administrative help.