The Gauhati High Court directed the State Government to file an affidavit clarifying their specific stand on whether the Government has taken any policy decision to frame Rules under Section 8 of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978.
The Itanagar Bench of Justice Arun Dev Choudhury and Justice Kardak Ete heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed with a grievance that the Rule as mandated under Section 8 of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978 has not been enacted till date though Act was enacted 44 years back.
The respondent State has filed an affidavit and has taken a stand that since a massive change has been undergone in the Arunachal Pradesh for last four decades, the Government has to consider the framing of the Rule as per ground reality, the present situation and that the Government is fully committed to preserve the indigenous faith and belief system practiced by the indigenous community of Arunachal Pradesh.
However, no specific stand has been taken in the affidavit whether the Government has taken any policy decision to frame Rules under Section 8 of the Act’ 1978 or whether any exercise has been carried out to look into the changed situation and ground reality.
“That being the position, let the State Government file a clear affidavit incorporating the aforesaid stand”, the Court directed posting the matter after four weeks.