SC issued Notice to Centre on PIL for reopening places of worship

Sep 9, 2020
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The Supreme Court today issued notice to centre for seeking response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to open all religious places of worship which have been closed due to COVID-19.

Supreme Court three-judge bench of the Chief Justice S A Bobde, and Justices A S Bopanna and Justice V. Ramasubramanian issued notice to the Central Government, States and Union Territories (UTs) seeking their response to a PIL filed by the Gitarth Ganga Trust.

Petitioner referring to the opening of business and commercial activities, the plea said that it was discrimination against religious institutions if they were not granted similar permission.

 “We are issuing notice just to explore possibility,” said the bench, which also comprised Jusrices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, in the proceedings held through video conferencing.

The PIL sought the reopening of religious places to uphold the fundamental rights of citizens, particularly of devotees.

The petitioner Advocate states that the prohibition by the States and the locking down of places of worship completely did not meet the test of proportionality i.e. a complete closure of places of worship was not necessary to meet the objectives of fighting the pandemic.

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