New Delhi: Bringing an end to all speculations, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Rath Yatra in Puri.
Hearing a PIL filed in this regard, the apex court said considering the prevalent situation in the light of COVID-19, public gathering for such an event cannot be allowed. The court also went on to stay public celebration of Rath Yatra in any part of Odisha. It also ordered for stopping for all activities related to it.
The three-judge Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and Dinesh Maheshwari noted, “A procession of this magnitude cannot be permitted at the time of a pandemic.”
THE JUDGMENT
“The annual Rath Yatra this year is scheduled for June 23. The festivities usually go on for 20 days. Having regard to the danger and public safety of citizens, we direct State of Odisha to not conduct any Rath Yatra this year. There shall be no activity associated with the rath yatra during this period. Lord Jagannath will not forgive us if we allow it.”
Earlier, the Orissa High Court had left it to the state government to take a decision on the annual sojourn of the deities of Jagannath Temple in Puri to Mausima Temple which was scheduled to be held on June 23.
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