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SC judge visiting Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad says Guj HC order is in public interest

The Guj HC yatra took place in a symbolic manner in the temple premises after the HC quashed pleas for a procession

MR ShahImage Courtesy:indianexpress.com

After the Supreme Court allowed the Jagannath Rath Yatra with ‘certain restrictions’, Supreme Court judge MR Shah who visited the Jagannath temple near Jamalpur Darwaja in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, said that the Gujarat HC order refusing to allow the Rath Yatra procession in Ahmedabad was in public interest, The Indian Express reported.

The Indian Express reported Justice Shah as saying, “The high court order is in public interest. Between public interest and faith, public interest is more important. Faith is certainly there, but we also have to take care of the public interest and public simultaneously. According to me it (HC order staying the procession) is perfect…”

On June 20, the Gujarat HC had stayed the procession of the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on two main grounds, one the Covid-19 pandemic and second, the June 18 order of the Supreme Court that put restrictions on the Rath Yatra. However, on June 22 while the SC allowed the procession in Puri, the Gujarat HC refused to use it as a precedent for the procession in Ahmedabad as it heard a special plea by the state government on June 23, reported The Wire.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Gujarat on Tuesday also showed dismay over the decision of the Gujarat HC, IE said. After the procession was cancelled, Dilip Trivedi, VHP Gujarat President issued a statement saying, “Hindus will never forgive the current BJP government for their lack of determination,” visibly miffed with the outcome of the pleas put before the Gujarat HC.

However, the temple in Ahmedabad organized a token procession of the Rath Yatra within its premises on Tuesday, after the Gujarat High Court turned down pleas for a street procession, The Hindu reported. The procession was kicked off by Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani who conducted the “pahind” ritual.

Related:

Puri Rath Yatra: SC imposes curfew, strict conditions for conduct of festivities
Kanwar Yatra cancelled, but will devotees stay home?

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