SC gives nod for Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra: Read the apex court's conditions here

On Monday, June 22, a three-judge SC bench comprising CJI SA Bobde, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice AS Bopanna permitted Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra to take place in Puri. While it h previously ruled against Rath Yatra in wake of public health concerns, apex court found merit in Puri Jagannath Temple ministration Chairman's proposal. bench stated that Rath Yatra can be conducted safely along its usual route from temple to temple if re is public attendance. Here are conditions stipulated by apex court for conduct of Rath Yatra:-

• All entry points into Puri shall be closed during period of festival.
• state government will impose a curfew in Puri on all days of festival, whenever Rath Yatra chariots are taken in procession and or days as deemed necessary. curfew shall begin from June 22 at 8 pm. 
• Each Rath will be pulled by t more than 500 persons which include officials and police personnel. Each of those persons shall be tested for COVID-19. Social distancing must be maintained.
• re should be an interval of one hour between two chariots.
• Only those individuals who have tested negative for COVID-19 can conduct rituals associated with Rath Yatra.
• A bare minimum of people should be allowed by Puri Jagannath Temple ministration in rituals and in Rath Yatra.
• state government can take help as found necessary from Centre.
• state government will maintain a record of all participants in Rath Yatra and associated rituals and details of ir medical condition after testing. 
• responsibility of implementing se conditions will be that of Committee-in-charge of Puri Jagannath Temple ministration, its members, and designated officers of state government.

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Hearing in apex court

During hearing in apex court, both Centre and Odisha government argued that Rath Yatra could be conducted while taking due precautions. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that conditions of Union government would help Rath Yatra to be carried out without affecting public health. se include restricting congregation of people and permitting only priests who tested negative for COVID-19 to conduct rituals. Maintaining that trition of centuries cant be stopped, Mehta pointed out that Lord Jagannath cant come for next 12 years if stay on Rath Yatra persisted. Senior vocate Harish Salve appearing for Odisha government agreed to Solicitor General's proposal.

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