Gujarat HC rejects all pleas for Jagannath Rath Yatra in a midnight hearing

In a midnight hearing after state government filed an appeal, Gujarat High Court stayed its order of t permitting Jagannath Yatra in Ahmedab, beginning from Tuesday evening. bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice JB Pardiwala took up hearing late on Monday night after a series of pleas were filed in HC registry post-Supreme Court's earlier in day permitting Yatra to take place in Puri, albeit under strict guidelines.

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High Court rejects all pleas

Gujarat High Court started urgent hearing at around12:45 am and passed its order around 2 am on Tuesday, saying re can be comparison between coronavirus pandemic situation in Gujarat and Odisha. plea h been filed by state government and five or parties, including an NGO. 

state government h me several proposals to ensure that virus will t spre and Temple authorities also remarked that Yatra will t take its usual route, will be without public participation and will conclude by 11 am.

RE: Gujarat Govt Seeks HC's d To Allow Ahmedab Rath Yatra After SC's d To Puri

High Court h earlier expressed shock at government granting permission to yatra in May, amid rising COVID-19 cases. state reported 563 cases and 21 deaths due to coronavirus on Monday.  state w has 6,278 active cases with 67 patients in critical condition and on a ventilator, state's health department said. Ahmedab reported314 out of total 563 new cases in state, while Surat reported 132 and Vodara 44. 

High Court's stated that it h rejected proposal earlier on two prominent grounds - Supreme Court's decision on Yatra in Puri and coronavirus situation in Ahmedab. court continued that even though SC h overturned its decision and h permitted yatra, situation in Puri and Ahmedab cant be compared and that city in Gujarat was still registering a high number of coronavirus cases.

RE: SC Gives d For Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra: Re Apex Court's Conditions Here

SC's verdict

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.  bench stated that Rath Yatra can be conducted safely along its usual route from temple to temple if re is public attendance. 

Supreme Court asked Centre, Odisha government and Temple committee to work in tandem to conduct Rath Yatra. Moreover, apex court also emphasised that re would be compromise on health of people amid COVID-19 outbreak. It also directed Odisha government to stop Yatra in case of a public health emergency. About 10-12 lakh devotees usually gar for Rath Yatra. 

RE: Supreme Court Allows Jagannath Rath Yatra To Take Place In Puri With Restrictions