The Supreme Court dismissed a plea on holding religious festivities in school grounds but allowed the century-old Ram Leela in Uttar Pradesh’s Tundla to continue. The bench observed the tradition has been running for over 100 years and directed that festivities must not inconvenience students or obstruct sports activities
Representational Image. File Pic
The Supreme Court of India on Thursday dismissed the request for the use of school grounds for religious festivities. However, the apex court further allowed a "Ram Leela" event, which has been organised for a century in Uttar Pradesh's Tundla, to be continued.
The bench, while giving the verdict, said that, "Although we don't approve of holding religious festivities in school grounds, this Ramleela has been going on for the past 100 years, and festivities for this year began on September 14," as cited by news agency PTI.
While listening to the petition on holding religious celebrations at state-run schools, a bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh stayed the Allahabad High Court order which barred holding of the celebrations in a state-run school ground while allowing it to continue, subject to no inconvenience being caused to students, as per PTI.
Staying the relevant portion of the September 22 high court order, the bench did allow the festivities to continue "subject to the condition that no inconvenience will be caused to the students and no obstruction shall be created in their sports activities".
Moreover, the bench pulled up the petitioner, Pradeep Singh Rana, for filing the case only after the festivities began on September 14.
The bench further told the petitioner, "This Ramleela has been going on for 100 years, and you also accept this fact. Then what prevented you from moving the courts in advance and stopping the festivities? "Neither you are a student nor are you parents of the students; what interest do you have in stopping the festivities?" as cited by PTI.
Rana said that it was only after they started constructing a concrete wall that he had moved the high court for a stay of the festivities.
The bench in reply further stated that, given the period festivities had been going on for, the high court ought to have asked the district administration to resolve the issue by identifying some other alternative suitable site.
The bench, therefore, directed the district administration to hold a proposal hearing for all stakeholders before issuing final directions.
While putting out the order, the bench of the Supreme Court said that, "We request the High Court to accord a hearing not only to the petitioner but also to other stakeholders as well, who also might be required to be heard before any final order is passed," as cited by news agency PTI.
The petitioner alleged the playground of the school was being used for Ram Leela between 7 pm and 10 pm, stopping students from playing in the ground, which is essentially meant for their recreational activities.
(With inputs from PTI)
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