New Delhi (ILNS): The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has allowed the Nanded Gurudwara management board to conduct their annual customary procession.
The division bench of Justice S. V. Gangapurwala and Justice Shrikant D. Kulkarni passed this order while disposing of the Petition filed by Takht Sachkhand Shri Hazur Apchalnagar Sahib Board, Nanded through Senior Counsel Rajendra S Deshmukh, assailing the order dated October 21, passed by the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority, whereby the representation of the petitioner to celebrate/conduct the Dussehra, Takhat Isnan, Dipmala Mahalla, Gurta Gaddi Kirtan and Gurta-Gaddi Sampathi Kirtan Darbar Nagar Kirtan event at Nanded was rejected.
The High Court observed that the event sought to be conducted has a tradition of three centuries.
“The petitioner may celebrate/conduct the Takhat Isnan, Dipmala Mahalla, Gurta Gaddi Kirtan and Gurta-Gaddi Sampathi Kirtan Darbar Nagar Kirtan at the event of Dussehra at Nanded,” allowed by the Court.
According to the order, the Board was allowed to carry one Palkhi Sahib with Guru Granth Sahib, 16 historical Nishan Sahib, five horses of Guru Sahib, three Kirtan Jathe on two large open trucks, and the procession shall commence at 4 pm and conclude at 5.30 pm tomorrow.
Moreover, the Petitioner will have to get those boarding the trucks tested for Covid-19, and only those having Covid-19 negative reports shall be permitted to board the trucks, and the Board has to video record the entire event.
While passing this order the Court remarked: “Both the parties have agreed that in view of the limited order that is being passed hereunder, no reasons in support of this Order be recorded, especially since this Order is being passed as and by way of an exception, which is not intended to be used as a Precedent by other persons, to seek permissions, to hold any festival/festivities, which would involve by their very nature congregation of people.”
-India Legal Bureau