Puri Rath Yatra Hopes Alive? Multiple Petitions Filed In Supreme Court

Bhubaneswar: With sentiments and emotions running high, a ray of hope seems to have emerged amidst the shadow cast over Puri Rath Yatra following Supreme Court’s directive to cancel the annual event this year.

Multiple petitions were filed on Friday in the Supreme Court seeking necessary modification to the original order prohibiting the conduct of the festival issued yesterday. The petitioners have urged the apex court for necessary modifications so that Rath Yatra in Puri can be organised amidst stringent restrictions and strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.

One Aftab Hossen today moved the Supreme Court seeking partial modification in the apex court order allowing conduct of Rath Yatra only in Puri. Advocate Pranaya Mohapatra, informed that the petitioner has prayed the apex court to pass necessary directives to the State government for holding Rath Yatra by announcing a complete shutdown in Puri.

Odisha Jagannath Sanskruti Janjagran Manch too has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a modification to the Rath Yatra cancellation order. Daitapati Nijog and International Hindu Mahansangha have also moved the apex court seeking modification and reconsideration of its previous order on Rath Yatra.

Moreover, one Laxmidhar Biswal of Puri district appealed PM Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to bring an ordinance for smooth functioning of the Rath Yatra. Biswal, who has also marked a copy of his appeal to the Home Minister & others including Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, has maintained that to uphold the Shree Jagannath Temple Act-1955 as well as to save the public sentiment, a Jallikattu-like ordinance should be promulgated at the earliest to ensure smooth functioning of Rath Yatra in Puri by imposing stringent conditions in view of COVID-19.

Biswal in his petition has mentioned that “The consent of Puri Shankaracharya has not been taken while the Hon’ble court heard the matter and passed the interim order. The Rath Yatra which is performed annually comes under the subject matter of Nitis/Rituals of Shree Jagannath Temple on which the consent of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Puri is most important for any conflict, if arises."

(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)

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