Bhubaneswar: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Orissa High Court today seeking to quash the Government of Odisha order issued on August 31, 2020, restricting/closing religious places/places of worship for public as illegal and unconstitutional.
The petitioner, Jayant Kumar Bal, has stated that the Odisha Government order of August 31 as illegal, arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, and unconstitutional as such liable to be quashed with appropriate direction to allow freedom of religious practices at religious places/places of worship for public in different places Odisha for different religion by using mask and social distancing.
Bal has further stated that the Opposite Parties cannot act in derogation of law and frustrating the mandate of the Constitution of India so the restriction to religious practices at Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri, and other different religious places of different religion in the state of Odisha should not be stopped on the plea of COVID-19 situation.
If Mall, Fitness Centre, Gym, Yoga Center, Liquor shops, etc and Public places are opened for public road transport like “MO BUS” is opened so there is no just cause and fairness in stopping the devotees of Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri and other devotees to their religious place and different temples, mosques, churches etc. and religious places in the State of Odisha, Bal added in the petition.
The petitioner has prayed that the court may be pleased to to admit the writ petition and to issue a “RULE NISI” to the Opp. parties to show cause as to:
Why the Govt. of Odisha, order dated 31.08.2020 vide Annexure-6 Clause 2 (i) restricting/closing religious places/ places of worship for public as per practices and customs by maintaining social distancing and wearing mask will not be set aside/quashed as illegal unconstitutional with a direction to the Opp. Parties to allow religious practices in place of worship for public in the State of Odisha including Shri Lord Jagannath Temple bije Puri like Konark Temple;
Why the Opp. Parties will not be directed to allow the petitioner and other devotees to visit Lord Shri Jagannath Bije, Puri and other religious places by other religion people by social distancing and by wearing Mask as per the norms of Govt. of India and Govt. of Odisha in public places or in public gathering.
And any other order (s) as deem fit be passed.
And if the Opp. parties do not show cause then the rule be made absolute by issuing writ(s) / direction(s) and any other order as deem fit be passed.
The petitioner has named the Chief Secretary, the Special Relief Commissioner, Secretary Law, Chief Administrator, Shri Jagannath Temple Administration, Collector Puri, SP Puri, Commissioner Endowment, and DG Police as Opposite Parties/ Respondents in the petition.
