GORANG GUPTA Vs. GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner before this Court, who is appearing in person, has filed the present writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India as a Public Interest Litigation ("PIL") seeking a prohibition of affixing photographs of gods/goddesses on walls to prevent public urination, spitting on and littering around such sacred images. The Petitioner, who is a practising advocate, states that he is a public-spirited person and has filed several PILs in the interest of the general public.

(2.) It is stated by the Petitioner that he has made representations to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi ("MCD"), New Delhi Municipal Council ("NDMC"), the Delhi Cantonment Board ("DCB") and the Government of NCT of Delhi ("GNCTD") apprising the authorities of the issue pertaining to affixation of photographs of religious deities on walls to prevent public urination, spitting and littering. The use of such photographs in various places leads to hurting religious sentiments of the public at large and therefore the Petitioner requested the various authorities to prohibit the affixation of such images on walls.

(3.) The Petitioner contends that such use of sacred images of religious deities on walls is in violation of Article 25 of the Constitution of India. The Petitioner further states that this Court has acknowledged the menace created by public urination in its order dtd. 26/3/2014 passed in Manoj Sharma v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Anr., W.P.(C.) 1969/2014. The order dtd. 26/3/2014 passed by this Court reads as under: