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Baidyanath Temple: "Virtual Darshan is no Darshan," says SC denying Jharkhand HC order
The apex court bench of Justices Arun Mishra, BR Gavai, and Krishna Murari refused to stay the Jharkhand HC judgment which refused to permit the conduct of the annual Shravani Mela at Deogarh's Baidyanath Temple amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nishikant Dubey, a BJP Member of Parliament challenged the Jharkhand High Court’s divisional bench verdict ordering that priests will perform puja in the temple, while devotees can watch virtually. The petitioners contended before the apex court that no devotee can enter but around 30,000 pandas (priests) are allowed inside the temple.
The SC reacted in a surprised manner to this and questioned that how will elimination be done when so many priests are allowed. Justice Mishra further expressed that especially on important occasions how can the religious places be closed while the entire country is unlocking.
Quoting Justice Arun Mishra, "Virtual Darshan is no Darshan. Devotees could be allowed to participate on a limited basis following social distancing guidelines. The country is opening but religious places are shut. Why? Temples, mosques, and churches should also be opened for important occasions like this."
Contending to this, Senior advocate Salman Khurshid, representing the state of Jharkhand said that the number of COVID cases has only been rising in the state especially after allowing the migrants inside and therefore no question arises of opening darshans. Hence this pandemic and the resultant lockdown in the state have been extended till August 31. Further, he stated that the state government cannot cancel its orders exactly two days before the festival.
The top court eventually denied the HC order and observed that total restriction to the darshan for the public is unreasonable when thousands of pandas were being allowed inside the temple. It further directed the state to open up places of worship in areas where lockdown has been lifted or eased by following the social distancing guidelines and other protocols laid down by the government.
Justice Arun Mishra then stated that it would be unjust to impose a total ban on
darshan for Shravan and Bhado months since states can make alternative arrangements to provide limited entries as done in Ujjain, another jyotirlingam.
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