NISHIKANT DUBEY Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the parties at length.

(2.) In the special leave petition, the prayer has been made to direct the entry of the general public in Baidhyanath Jyotirlinga Temple at Deoghar and Baba Basukinath Temple during the month of Shravan. The High Court has passed an order that online darshan should be allowed during the entire course of Shravani Puja. Accordingly, directions have been issued for online darshan. At the same time, the High Court has also ordered that Puja of Jyotirlinga would continue during the month of Shravan and Bhado, but the same will be done by the temple trust without allowing any public participation.

(3.) The prayer was made before the High Court to allow limited number of devotees to participate in Shravani Puja and to perform the puja every day. The High Court has opined that it would not be appropriate to allow some people of public to participate in Shravani Puja and depriving the others. Prayer was also made that local inhabitants of the District of Deoghar may be allowed to participate in Shravani Puja but the High Court declined the same on the ground that local people of the Deoghar cannot be treated differently so far as the religious faith is concerned, in comparison to those people who are living outside the periphery of District Deoghar.