The Maharashtra government on Monday opposed the Centre's suggestion in the Supreme Court that religious ceremonies and processions should be allowed gradually with all security norms.
The Maharashtra government emphasized that in view of the situation of Kovid-19, it is not yet time that doors of places of worship are opened and it should also be noted that Maharashtra is the most affected state in the country.
The state government made its stand before a bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao during the hearing of a petition by the Nanded Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee that demanded a short procession on the occasions of Dussehra, Takht Isanan, Deepmala, and Gupta Gaddi. The petition stated that this is a three-century-old tradition. Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner stated that the management would ensure that no more than 50 people join the procession and follow all safety measures by riding on the truck.
Referring to the latest unlock guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta presented on behalf of the Central Government said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has now allowed 100 persons to conduct religious meetings. He said that Nanded has special relevance in the Sikh community as it is one of his five planks. The Solicitor General said that in such a situation the Middle Way should be adopted when the petitioners are ready to restrict the number of people involved in the procession.
At the same time, senior advocate Devdutt Kamat, appearing for the Maharashtra government, strongly opposed it. He emphasized that it always becomes impossible to control the number of people in a religious gathering and that the state will make public health and safety a priority. He said that the Home Ministry guidelines are advisory for the state governments. Maharashtra has borne the brunt of the cases of Kovid-19. Now that the number of corona patients is decreasing, we cannot afford to allow such processions.
After hearing all the arguments, the bench accepted the Maharashtra government's argument that the state administration is best suited to assess the ground conditions and take decisions in view of the epidemic. The apex court has asked the Gurdwara Management Committee to represent the state government with its new proposal. The state authority will consider the proposal afresh. The management, if dissatisfied with the decision of the state administration, is free to approach the Bombay High Court.