The Bombay High Court on Monday ordered that Good Friday be declared a public holiday in the Union Territories (UT) of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli this year. The religious holiday falls on April 19 this year.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Anthony Francisco Duarte. The PIL sought that the administrator of the two UTs declare Good Friday a public holiday, as done by all States and the Central government.
The PIL said, “Ever since these territories came under the Indian Union, [Good Friday] has always been declared as a public holiday considering that many Christians are residing in far-flung areas of these UTs.”
Senior counsel Harish Jagtiani, appearing for Mr. Duarte, said the “sentiments of the minority community and not the numbers” need to be considered.
Advocate S.S. Deshmukh, representing the administration of the UTs, told the court that since 1984, the Home Ministry has authorised three compulsory holidays for UTs — Independence Day, Republic Day, and Gandhi Jayanti — and an extra holiday for liberation day, which is August 2 for Dadra and Nagar Haveli and December 19 for Daman and Diu. His main contention was that since the Christian population is less than 2%, the list cannot be modified at the last moment.
The court, however, said, “Christmas is celebrated with much bonhomie by all communities. People of all castes, creed and communities commemorate Good Friday... And chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs are eaten and enjoyed by all. Considering the importance of Good Friday for the [Christian] community, the administrator [is directed] to declare it as a public holiday.”