"Festivals are happy places, and you don't really want to enjoy them on your own": CJI, Supreme Court ~ "Why do we always want to portray that religious festivals are the time for riots; for example, there are no riots during Ganesh Puja in Maharashtra"

The Supreme Court of India on Friday deprecated the tendency to equate religious processions with communal riots.
|
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha cited the example of Ganesh Puja in Maharashtra and said that though lakhs of people gather for the same, there are no riots associated with it.
"Why do we always want to portray that religious festivals are the time for riots? Let us look at the good which happens in country. See Maharashtra during Ganesh Puja lakhs gather but there are no riots," the CJI said.
The Court, therefore, dismissed a public interest litigation(PIL) to regulate religious processions and have a standard operating procedure for the same.
The Court opined that the prayers in the PIL are not judicially manageable as the subject matter is dealt by State subject and hence they cannot interfere.
"It is a State subject and Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the issues are different. How can this court monitor this? Prayers are not judicially manageable. It seeks roving writ of mandamus and law and order falls within ambit of the State," the Court noted.
During the hearing today, the counsel for petitioner, Senior Advocate CU Singh argued that only the Supreme Court can do something to prevent violence and riots during religious gatherings and processions.
"I have myself gone through these commissions of inquires. We are on laying down guidelines and how these permissions are given. Today processions are held brandishing weapons like swords etc and happens during religious festivals," Singh contended.
The Court, however, maintained that it cannot interfere and individual grievances can be examined by the concerned High Court.
"The subject of Police is also under the State list, we are not entertaining this. The country is diverse and issues in a district of a State is different than another district and the State can regulate them," the Court said.
The Supreme Court cannot be dragged into every area of law and order which is under the State, the bench underscored.
Singh then sought to withdraw the plea but the Court disallowed the same.
"Sorry. No withdrawal with these prayers. Dismissed," the Court ordered.
References:
Support Us
Satyagraha was born from the heart of our land, with an undying aim to unveil the true essence of Bharat. It seeks to illuminate the hidden tales of our valiant freedom fighters and the rich chronicles that haven't yet sung their complete melody in the mainstream.
While platforms like NDTV and 'The Wire' effortlessly garner funds under the banner of safeguarding democracy, we at Satyagraha walk a different path. Our strength and resonance come from you. In this journey to weave a stronger Bharat, every little contribution amplifies our voice. Let's come together, contribute as you can, and champion the true spirit of our nation.
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
ICICI Bank of Satyaagrah | Razorpay Bank of Satyaagrah | PayPal Bank of Satyaagrah - For International Payments |
If all above doesn't work, then try the LINK below:
Please share the article on other platforms
DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text. The website also frequently uses non-commercial images for representational purposes only in line with the article. We are not responsible for the authenticity of such images. If some images have a copyright issue, we request the person/entity to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will take the necessary actions to resolve the issue.
Related Articles
- "न्याय, मलाई मार के": In 1992, hundreds of Hindu girls were exploited in the Ajmer gangrape case by 'Khadims' of the Dargah and ex-Congressman Nafis Chisti, with the perpetrators only being convicted by the POCSO court after a long, grueling 32 years
- "Virtue can only flourish among equals": Law Commission of India solicits views & ideas of the public and recognized religious organizations about Uniform Civil Code, interested can present their views within a period of 30 days from the date of Notice
- “Chaos is merely order waiting to be deciphered”: MoP issue settled; government cannot conveniently cite views of few judges on MoP to oppose Collegium recommendations, scheme of our constitution requires court to be final arbiter of law ~ Supreme Court
- “Just a reminder that I’m going on vacation and you’re not”: Plea before Bombay High Court challenges long court vacations; claims such vacations violate fundamental rights of citizens since litigants' right to seek justice is affected by such vacations
- ‘आशिक़ी का वो ज़माना याद है’: Bombay HC grants bail to Mohammed Ajaan Khan, accused of raping minor, citing not a sexual predator but a young person in consensual relationship, despite her underage status, two pregnancies, and abortions
- Amit Shah announces transformative shifts in India's criminal laws, aiming to eradicate colonial legacies and emphasize justice over punishment, with tech integration & comprehensive consultations, Shah envisions an efficient, citizen-centric legal system
- "If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable": Secular Court of India - “You can hold Pooja somewhere else" denying permission for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at disputed Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru, Kapil Sibal fought and won
- "अब आयो ऊंट पहाड़ नीचे": A Bareilly court convicts Mohammed Alim for Love Jihad, tricking a woman into conversion and abortion, giving him life in prison, penalizing his father, and warning of conversion threats like in Pakistan and Bangladesh
- "Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please": SC grants bail to life convict Farooq who pelted stone at burning Godhra Train in 2002 & prevented Hindus inside train from escaping from fire, CJI Chandrachud ~ "It has been 17 long years"
- Bombay HC grants bail to a 24-year-old rape accused, citing 14-year-old girl's sufficient knowledge of her actions, despite her father filing an FIR after finding her missing for 4 days in Juhu Chowpatti; apparently, minors now sign invisible consent form
- Blast from the past: why DMK government’s idea to melt temple gold is dangerous?
- "Traitors are hated even by those whom they prefer": Bengaluru Eng student Faiz Rasheed sentenced to a 5 year jail term for celebrating Pulwama terrorist attack on Facebook, said more such attacks needed to free Kashmir and asked "how is the khauf"
- "Truth is often stranger than fiction": Imagine finding a Shivling in every mosque's fountain!" Maulana Tauqeer Raza muses, stoking controversy over the Gyanvapi structure. Is it truth or clever wordplay? History meets sarcasm in this religious saga
- "Power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law": Kerala High Court - Nudity should not be tied to sex. Mere sight of the naked upper body of the woman should not be deemed to be sexual, Just as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so is obscenity
- "Tradition on Trial: Festivity Faces the Bench": A judicial spark ignites communal debate on tradition as the Kerala High Court orders raid of all religious places to seize illegal crackers; says no holy book commands bursting firecrackers to please God