No annual Rath Yatra at Jagannath Temple this year, says Supreme Court citing coronavirus

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the world-famous Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, scheduled from June 23, on the ground of threat to public health and safety in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is a serious matter. We are not allowing this. Lord Jagannath will not forgive us if we allow this to continue. Activities related to Rath Yatra is injuncted," a bench presided over Chief Justice S A Bobde said.

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Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for an NGO, Odisha Vikas Trust, said there is no way we could allow a congregation of about 10 lakh people. It would be impossible to contain such a gathering. Even the Olympics have been postponed this year, he said.

At this point, some of the lawyers said there won't be 10 lakh people. But the bench said, "Even if there were 10,000 people, it is dangerous."

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought permission to seek instructions and come back to the court on Friday. The bench, however, said we would not be available. On this, Mehta said the state may consider the issue.

The court, then went on to announce the order that in view of the pandemic, no Rath Yatra would take place in Odisha and no activity religious or secular associated to Rath Yatra would take place.

The court posted the matter for consideration after four weeks.

The petitioner sought to stay on the Yatra festival, saying it will greatly enhance the prospect of COVID-19 spread due to the gathering of a large number of people making it impossible to maintain social distancing.

The petitioner contended that the alarming situation currently prevailing in Odisha was evident from the fact that the projection reflected by Union government's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Department said that the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Odisha will reach around 10,718 by July 9.

It maintained that the government was duty-bound to protect the Right to Health, Life and Personal Liberty and Right to Live with Dignity and Fair Treatment as enumerated under Article 21 of the Constitution of the people of Odisha, including the devotees who might attend the Rath Yatra.

This was also in violation of state government's own guidelines of June 1 and 7 and that the Ministry of Home Affairs' May 30 for closing any cultural and religious functions and other large congregations, it said.

The festival scheduled to commence on June 23 at Puri in Odisha was to continue for a period of around 10-12 days.