Tamil Nadu firm on idol procession ban, HC sends mixed signals

CHENNAI: While Tamil Nadu government stood firm against making Ganesha Chathurthi a public spectacle during the pandemic, the Madras high court has sent mixed signals.
While a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam of the high court in Madurai declined to interfere with the state’s decision, another bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha at the principal seat in Chennai asked the state government whether if it could relax the restrictions keeping the idol-making artisans’ predicament in mind. “The state can consider relaxing the restriction in the interest of such artisans,” the judges said, giving advocate-general Vijay Narayan time till Friday to convey the government’s response to the court.
The state sought full support from “all sections” to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by adhering to the orders and guidelines of the central and state governments. An official statement cited the guidelines issued by the Union home ministry on July 29 that banned religious functions and other large congregations across the country. Following the Centre’s guidelines and considering the prevailing situation, the state had banned installation of idols, public worship, procession and immersion of idols for the welfare of people. It advised people to celebrate Chathurthi indoors. A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam was forthright and said religious practices and sentiments were subservient to practical difficulties of Covid-19 pandemic. It also pointed out the public health scare the pandemic has created and how it had adverse impact on people with comorbid conditions.
However, another bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha empathised with the pitiable condition of artisans who make Ganesha idols for a living, and said they had been making idols for several months and were hit hard by the pandemic and lockdown. “Therefore, the state can consider relaxing the restriction in the interest of such artisans,” the judges said, giving advocate-general Vijay Narayan to convey the government’s response by Friday.
BJP supports Hindu Munnani, slams
The BJP on Thursday attacked the AIADMK government for disallowing celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi in public places and asked when liquor shops can be opened why Ganesha idols should not be put up. The BJP’s stand aligns with that of Hindu Munnani on this issue, the state unit said on its official twitter handle and attributed the posts to party chief L Murugan.