Image Source: National Herald
New Delhi: A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde, hearing a petition, on withholding the 10day annual Rath Yatra at the Jagannath Temple in Odisha, which was scheduled to start from 23 June via video conferencing, has put the Rath Yatra on hold this year. “We will injunct the rath yatra and all the celebrations associated with it. Lord Jagannath will forgive us,” CJI Bobde then said.
“Having regard to the danger presented by such a large gathering of people for the purposes of Rath Yatra we consider it appropriate, in the interest of public safety and safety of citizens, to restrain the respondents (temple authorities) from holding the Rath Yatra this year,” ordered the bench.
In its order, the court restrained the temple authorities from holding secular or religious activities associated with the Rath Yatra during the 10-day period.
“There shall be no Rath Yatra anywhere in Puri or anywhere else in Odisha,” the court-ordered.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on behalf of the central government, requested the Court to adjourn the matter for deliberations within the government as it is a sensitive matter, but the Court refused.
Mehta asked the court to direct the Odisha government to ensure that rituals are held inside the temple without a gathering.
To this, CJI Bobde said, “We have enough experience. The minute we say something is allowed, there will be a gathering. We know what religious fervour can lead to.”
Senior Advocate Harish Salve represented the Odisha government and supported the petition filed by Odisha-based NGO Odisha Vikas Parishad (OVP). “In the present circumstances, the yatra cannot happen. The moment there is a celebration, there is a congregation,” Salve told the court.
The petition said the yatra should not take place this year since it could be a potential source of infection because lakhs of devotees are scheduled to gather at the temple.
“This is an important matter,” the CJI said when the matter was brought before the court – giving a clear indication that it would not procrastinate on the matter. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the petioner said “preparations for the yatra had already begun and more than 10 lakh people are likely to be a part of the celebrations”. “The court must grant an injunction,” Rohatgi argued.
“We do not want any congregation but we should be allowed to have rituals,” senior advocate Ajit Prasad intervened for one of the intervenors.
Rohtagi countered, “Though the yatra is scheduled for 23 June, people have already come on the roads. Imagine the gathering if any ritual is held.” and the matter ended there.
Later, in a lighter vein, the CJI also told lawyers, “The English word juggernaut is derived from Lord Jagannath and it means the one that cannot be stopped.” In response, Mehta remarked, “But today you have stopped it.”
