Supreme Court refuses to allow Rath Yatra across Odisha, except at Puri

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 6

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to allow Rath Yatra across Odisha, except at Puri Jagannath temple in view of the Covid pandemic.

“You want to pray to God. You can do it from home. I also wanted to go to Puri but I couldn’t in the last one and half years. This isn’t the time,” said a Bench led by CJI NV Ramana while refusing to permit Rath Yatras in Baripada, Sasang and other parts of the state.

The Odisha Government has permitted Rath Yatra only at Puri even as it allowed rituals within temple premises of all other Jagannath temples across the state.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta suggested that Rath Yatras could be allowed by limiting the number of participants with certain restrictions.

“We hope God will allow us these rituals next year,” the CJI said dismissing all the pleas in this regard.

The Odisha Government maintained that it was impossible to ensure adherence to strict Covid protocol in thousands of Jagannath temples across the state where lakhs of devotees gather to take part in religion processions.