The Supreme Court declines rituals related to Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to allow the rituals related to one of India's biggest chariot festivals, Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, to be confined to the temple without any gathering. The Supreme Court stated, “In the interest of public health and safety of citizens, this year's Rath Yatra at Puri in Orissa can't be allowed”.

While hearing a plea seeking cancellation of the Rath Yatra Festival this year, the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde cited, “We consider it appropriate that in the interest of public health and safety of citizens to restrain the respondents from holding the Rath Yatra this year. We direct that no Rath Yatra will be held in temple areas of Odisha.” 

Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and AS Bopanna in the interest of public health and safety of citizens declined this year's Rath Yatra at Puri in Odisha. Solicitor General Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the petitioner during the hearing submitted that a congregation of lakhs of people cannot be allowed for the yatra amid the COVID 19 pandemic. The court further directed that “there shall be no activities secular or religious associated with the Rath Yatra during this period”. 

SC cited Article 25 (1) of the Constitution which says that the right to freely profess and propagate religion will be subject to health. 

The CJI refused to entertain the submission of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta saying if the court could ask the state government to make sure there is no gathering and that only the rituals are allowed and confined to the inside of the temple. Rohatgi did not agree and added, “Imagine the gathering if any ritual is allowed”.

Senior Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the state of Odisha, expressed concern if a large gathering was to happen. “The moment there is a celebration, there is a congregation,” he contended. The order came on a plea by NGO Odisha Vikas Parishad, which contended the annual yatra scheduled to begin on June 23 could lead to the spread of infection as it is attended by lakhs of people. 

Senior Advocate Ajith Prasad, appearing on behalf of an intervenor, requested the court, “We do not want to have any congregation but we should be allowed to have rituals.” Hearing a plea filed by Odisha Vikas Parishad, CJI cited, “Lord Jagannath will not forgive us if we allow this to continue. Activities related to the Rath Yatra is injuncted.” 

The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are pulled over a distance of 2.5 km on the Grand Road from the Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple. The Odisha government had been directed to deploy heavy-duty machinery or elephants to pull the chariots.  

CJI further orders that no secular or religious activity associated with the Rath Yatra will take place this year. 

“We are not allowing this…Lord Jagannath will forgive us,” remarked the CJI. The Supreme Court said such gatherings can't take place at the time of the pandemic. All activities associated with the Rath Yatra have also been stopped by the Supreme Court.