SC Order On Rath Yatra: Plea To Odisha CM To Go For Ordinance

Bhubaneswar: With the Supreme Court stay on Rath Yatra evoking resentment among the people of Odisha and Puri Shankaracharya calling for reconsideration of the ruling by the apex court, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been appealed to promulgate an ordinance after getting the Centre’s approval.

One Laxmidhar Biswal of Astaranga in Puri district has proposed to the chief minister that the Odisha government should propose to the Centre to promulgate an ordinance to celebrate the Rath Yatra.

Citing the Jallikattu ordinance by Tamil Nadu, he said the state government can make necessary changes in its laws if proposed by the Central government to organise the Rath Yatra which is linked to religious sentiment of the devotees.

It may be noted that after the Supreme Court banned Jallikattu (bull-taming sport) on the ground of cruelty to animals, the Tamil Nadu government had sent a proposal to the Centre seeking an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and removal of “bull” from the list of “performing” animals.

The ministries of environment, law and culture approved the proposal which enabled the state government to promulgate the ordinance to hold Jallikattu.

Meanwhile, Biswal has also moved the Supreme Court on the ground that it had not taken the consent of the Shankaracharya before announcing the order.

He said the court order goes against the principle of Shree Jagannath Temple
Act-1955 as well as the earlier view of the Supreme Court in the matter of
writ petition (Civil) No.649 of 2018 & writ petition (Civil) No.1094 of 2019.

Also Read: Rath Yatra: Plea In SC For Partial Modification In Stay Order