SC seeks response from states on opening places of worship

NEW DELHI: Unlocking of minds stressed for months by Covid-19 pandemic need spiritual solace and succour through prayers at places of worship, argued a PIL and the Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and states whether places of worship can be thrown open to devotees without congregation and in strict adherence to social distancing.
A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian sought response from governments on the PIL filed by 'Gitarth Ganga Trust' through advocate Surjendu Sankar Das, who argued that despite the May 30 'Unlock One' guidelines allowing gradual opening of places of worship from June 8, many states have completely kept them shut in violation of right to worship and other religious rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
The Ahmedabad-based religious research institute said it is concerned about all religious institutions and places of worship, including but not limited to temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, which have remained locked or with very limited access for more than five and half months in India due to the Pandemic.
"The Petitioner is concerned for the well-being and spiritual happiness of each and every resident of India. The Petitioner also states and submits categorically that the objective of the Petition is not to either promote or encourage or seek any relief for any religious congregation or procession, but only limited to the rights of devotees confined to the places of worship and that too following the relevant guidelines strictly," it said.
The petitioner said the pandemic caused unemployment, financial stress and lack of social meetings has affected the mental health of many devotees and worshippers. Their stress could find a vent if the places of worship and religious places were allowed to reopen to help them get solace through spiritual progress through prayers.
"In permitting businesses and commercial activities while prohibiting religious practices, the states have weighed the risk of the pandemic with the 'reward' of the value of the business. The prohibition by the states and complete lockdown of places of worship does not meet the test of proportionality in administrative action, that is, complete closure of places of worship is not necessary to meet the objective of fighting the pandemic. All that is necessary is that the requisite precautions must be followed which have been laid down by the Union government," it said.