The Supreme Court has temporarily lifted the High Court's stay on the Ramlila festival in Firozabad district, Uttar Pradesh. The festival has been ongoing for the past 100 years. The Court stipulated that students should not face any inconvenience.
New Delhi. The Supreme Court has ordered the temporary lifting of the stay imposed by the Allahabad High Court on the Ramlila festival organized at a school in Firozabad district, Uttar Pradesh. This decision was pronounced by a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh. The Court granted permission with the condition that no student of the school should face any inconvenience during the festival.
The Supreme Court stated that this Ramlila festival has been continuously organized for the past 100 years, and it would not be appropriate to stop it.
Supreme Court Stays Allahabad High Court's Order
The Supreme Court challenged the High Court's order which stated that religious festivals would not be allowed to be held on school grounds. The Court clarified that this festival has been ongoing for a long time and there should be no obstruction to its organization.
The Court stated in its order that the Ramlila festival commenced on September 14 this year, and stopping it would cause unnecessary inconvenience to students and the community. Additionally, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the UP government, asking it to be prepared for the next hearing of the case.
Supreme Court's Conditions
Along with permitting the organization of Ramlila, the Supreme Court has also laid down certain conditions. The most prominent condition is that no student of the school should experience any inconvenience or trouble during the festival.
Furthermore, the Court instructed the High Court to also hear the opinions of other stakeholders in the upcoming hearing and consider proposals for an alternative venue for this festival in the future.
Supreme Court Also Pulled Up the Petitioner
The bench criticized petitioner Pradeep Singh Rana for not filing the complaint earlier and bringing the matter to court only after the festival had begun. The Court stated that Ramlila has been organized for 100 years, and questioned why the petitioner did not acknowledge this fact earlier.
The Supreme Court raised the question of why the petitioner attempted to stop the festival when they are neither a student nor a guardian of one. The Court made a sharp remark on this matter, stating that the court should have been approached earlier.
Ramlila Festival and its Historical Significance
The Ramlila festival has been held in Firozabad for the past 100 years and holds cultural significance for the local community and students. The Supreme Court clarified that stopping this long-standing festival would not only be culturally inappropriate but also against the interests of students and the school community.
Notice to UP Government
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the UP government so that the government can clarify its position in the upcoming hearing. Additionally, the High Court has been instructed to present a proposal for an alternative venue in the future, so that the Ramlila festival can be organized smoothly.
Supreme Court's Sharp Remarks
The Supreme Court made sharp remarks on the petitioner's delay, stating that the failure to file a timely complaint in this matter is incomprehensible. Had the complaint been filed earlier, a solution might have been found sooner. Furthermore, the Court also commented on the High Court's assumptions that religious festivals cannot be held within school premises.
