Can Nanded Gurudwara procession be held at 5 am?: SC asks Mah Govt
   Date :20-Oct-2020

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NEW DELHI :
 
THE Supreme Court on Monday asked the Maharashtra Government to examine whether the Nanded Gurudwara can be allowed to hold Dussehra festivities and the Guru Granth Sahib procession at 5 am, with limited gathering. A vacation bench comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao, Hemant Gupta and Ajay Rastogi said the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) should take decision in the matter against the backdrop of the COVID-129 scenario.
 
The order has come on a plea filed by the Nanded Sikh Gurudwara Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Board, which sought permission for Dussehra, Takht Isnan, Deepmala and Gurta Gaddi events. The board cited these events are three centuries-old custom maintained by the Gurudwara. Advocate Praveen Chaturvedi, representing the petitioner, contended the State Government has already allowed marriages with 50 people in attendance, and his client is not asking for public participation instead the procession, on a limited route, can be allowed with 40 to 50 people.
 
The bench queried who will control if the procession is on the road? The bench noted that State Government is saying there is a health risk against the backdrop of people affected in Nanded and added that in Puri there were restrictions but many people turned up. Chaturvedi further clarified that his client has reduced the procession route to 1.5 km and they will use a truck on which Granth Sahib will be kept and the proceedings will be live telecast. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, cited the MHA August 29 order which allowed religious/political/social functions from September 21 and September 30 guidelines allowing gathering of up to 100 persons outside containment zones subject to conditions.