Swarna Shukla-
Published On: November 10, 2021 at 20:25 IST
The Delhi High Court rejected a Plea challenging the notification passed by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and the Delhi Government prohibiting the conduct of Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna river in Delhi.
As Justice Rekha Palli observed, “The Petitioner has not pointed out any right as to how the devotees are entitled to insist that they are supposed to perform Chhath Puja only on the banks of Yamuna.”
The Court further stated while rejecting the Plea, “There is no attempt on the part of the respondent in the said Order to curtail the rights of the citizens, instead they have taken care of devotees’ religious sentiments by taking steps to declare sites for performance of Chhath Puja, even though Covid has not disappeared completely.”
The Petition was filed by two societies stating the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and the Delhi Government prohibited them from performing Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna River while declaring alternate sites for Chhath Puja at Soniabagh and Wazirabad away from their place.
The Petitioner alleged that by prohibiting them from performing Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna, the Respondents are violating the Fundamental Rights of devotees guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 25 of the Constitution.
Advocate Gautam Narayan, appearing for DDMA, informed the Court that there are 800 sites designated by the Respondents for Chhath Puja throughout Delhi out of which only seven falls within the vicinity of Sonia Bagh and Wazirabad.
The Court after hearing both parties, decided that there was no meaning in the arguments of the Petitioner and refused to allow the Plea.
Also Read: Toll Plaza Scam in Tamil Nadu – When will scams come to an end?
Disciplinary Rules for Public Servants