Two days after the date for the 'Bhumi Pujan' of Ram Temple in Ayodhya was set as August 5, a petition has been filed in the Allahabad High Court seeking a stay on the event, terming it as a violation of Unlock 2.0 guidelines.

The plea was filed by Delhi-based lawyer Saket Gokhale on Wednesday. It states that since around 200 people were likely to attend the event, it is a violation of the guidelines issued by the government.

The religious gathering will increase the risk of spreading coronavirus, the plea added.

The PIL has been filed in public interest during the pandemic, the petitioner, who has worked in several news publications abroad and also a social activist, wrote on Twitter.

"I've filed a Letter PIL with the Allahabad High Court seeking a stay on the Ram Mandir event in Ayodhya in view of the Unlock 2.0 guidelines & in the interest of public health during a pandemic. Dunno what comes out of it but we must not stop doing the right thing & speaking up," the tweet read.

Along with the Ram Mandir Trust, the Centre has also been made a party.

Till the time of writing this report, the plea has not been accepted yet.

Notably, Swami Govind Dev Giri, treasurer of the  Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, has said that social distancing norms will be ensured at the programme.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple on August 5. To ensure social distancing at the programme, we have decided that there will not be more than 200 people, including 150 invitees (at the event)," Giri told ANI.

All chief ministers will be invited to the programme, he added.