A Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta was told that 36 permissions were denied due to apprehensions over law and order.
Published Jan 29, 2024 | 6:37 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 29, 2024 | 6:37 PM
The Ram Temple consecration ceremony happened on 22 January. (Creative Commons)
Out of the 288 permissions sought to hold special prayers at temples in Tamil Nadu on the day of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, 252 were granted, the state government told the Supreme Court on Monday, 29 January.
The “Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the new idol of Ram Lalla at the temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya was held on 22 January. The occasion was celebrated across the country with temples organising special prayers and religious activities.
A Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta was told by senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, that 36 permissions were denied due to apprehensions over law and order.
“The issue of denial of permissions is already pending before the Madurai and the Madras benches of the high court and, therefore, this matter should be disposed of,” Tiwari submitted.
“We had received 288 applications, out of which 252 were allowed,” the advocate added.
The top court’s Bench asked Tiwari to file an affidavit giving details of the permissions granted and rejected within 15 days, as well as issues pending before the two Benches of the Madras High Court.
It listed the matter for further hearing after 15 days.
Senior advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, appearing for petitioner, and Tamil Nadu resident Vinoj, submitted that he would like to file a rejoinder affidavit.
Justice Khanna said, “Mr Naidu, it is not required. Don’t push further. It was a one-day event. The order that was passed has played its role.”
On 22 January, the Supreme Court cautioned the Tamil Nadu government against enforcing a ban on the live telecast of the Ayodhya ceremony and other events to celebrate the occasion.
A Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said permission to telecast the event cannot be rejected in certain localities on grounds like Hindus being a “minority” there.
The Tamil Nadu government told the court that there was no such ban on live telecast of the programme as claimed in the urgent petition.
The Bench took on record the statement of Tiwari that there are no restrictions on “puja archana” in temples or live telecast of the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya.
He said the plea is “politically motivated”.
The Bench asked the authorities to put on record the reasons and maintain the data of applications, which have been allowed for “puja archana” and live telecast of consecration ceremony in temples and those which have been disallowed.
The plea has been filed by one Vinoj in which it has been submitted that the Tamil Nadu government, run by the DMK, has banned live telecast of the “pran prathishta” of Lord Ram at Ayodhya in all temples across Tamil Nadu.
(With PTI inputs)
