ALLAHABAD: While reiterating that every citizen has the right to celebrate festivals in a peaceful manner, the Allahabad high court on Friday said authorities should not show reluctance while granting such permission, if it is permitted by law.
Allowing a PIL filed by
Sanjay Singh and 34 others of Christian community from
Kaushambi, a division bench of Chief Justice
Dilip Babasaheb Bhosale and Justice
Manoj Kumar Gupta directed the authorities concerned to consider the application seeking permission to celebrate Christmas on or before Monday, December 25, in accordance with law.
According to the petitioners, they celebrated Christmas every year in their aforesaid village. However, during urban local body elections conducted recently, the local administration imposed Section 144 CrPC and thereby prohibited any assembly of public in village. It was alleged by the petitioners that now they were not being allowed to celebrate Christmas because of this prohibitory order.
During the course of hearing, counsel for petitioners said Friday being the last working day and now high court will remain closed till January 1, 2018 due to winter vacation, the court may direct the district administration to decide the application of the petitioner seeking permission to celebrate Christmas.
The petitioners' application dated December 16, 2017, has been pending before district administration, which sought permission to celebrate Christmas festival between December 24 and December 31.
(Representative Image)
