New Delhi: The Supreme Court will Monday hear a bunch of petitions seeking modification of its earlier order of June 18, wherein it stayed the historic Rath Yatra festival in Puri and all other places in Odisha owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A single judge bench of the apex court comprising of Justice S Ravindra Bhat will hear the matter at 11 am.
The Supreme Court on June 18 stayed this year’s Rath Yatra starting from June 23 and also the related activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The apex court issued the directive while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on this.
A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices Dineesh Maheshwari and A S Bopanna said that in the interest of public health and safety of citizens, this year’s Rath Yatra at Puri in Odisha can’t be allowed.
“Lord Jagannath won’t forgive us if we allow this year’s Rath Yatra to go on,” CJI Bobde said, adding that as such a huge gathering can’t take place during the pandemic.
PNN