MUBEEN FAROOQI Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The case has been taken up for hearing through video conferencing.

(2.) This Public Interest Litigation is instituted by the petitioner, who is Advocate by profession and the President of Muslim Federation of Punjab, Malerkotla.

(3.) According to the averments made in the petition, the respondents have imposed curfew/lock-down to avoid the spread of Corona virus. The petitioner has placed on record various notifications issued by the Union of India from time to time. The restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs vide order dated 24.03.2020 were relaxed from time to time. No relaxation has been provided qua religious places. It is also averred that Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year in Islamic culture. Muslims observe the month of Ramadan, to mark that Allah or God gave the first chapter of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad in 610. According to the petitioner, Mosque/Idgah is the best place to offer prayer during Ramadan and the period can be restricted to one hour for offering Jamaat/Namaz of Eid-Ul-Fitr and Dua. The petitioner has also made a prayer to respondent No.1 on 19.05.2020, but no response has been received by him. There is reference to martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji on 26.05.2020. It is further averred that the places of worship i.e. Mosques/Idgahs, Gurudwaras and Temples, can also be opened since the shops and markets have been permitted to open by maintaining social distancing. The petitioner has prayed that all the religious places be ordered to be opened.