BJP Leader Subramanian Swamy Moves Allahabad HC Against UP Govt's Action Declaring Fairs Of State's Temples As Govt 'Melas'

Sparsh Upadhyay

6 Dec 2024 1:53 PM

  • BJP Leader Subramanian Swamy Moves Allahabad HC Against UP Govts Action Declaring Fairs Of States Temples As Govt Melas

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy has approached the Allahabad High Court challenging the Uttar Pradesh government's 2017 decision to take over the management of Melas and festivals associated with state temples. Swamy's Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition, which will be heard by a bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Vikas Budhwar on...

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy has approached the Allahabad High Court challenging the Uttar Pradesh government's 2017 decision to take over the management of Melas and festivals associated with state temples.

    Swamy's Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition, which will be heard by a bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Vikas Budhwar on Monday, prays that the Uttar Pradesh government's notification dated September 18, 2017, and consequential order dated November 3, 2017, be quashed.

    The PIL plea challenges the notification on the grounds that it violates Articles 14, 25, and 31A of the Constitution of India. It argues that through the impugned declaration, the UP Government is attempting to take over the administration, management, and control of the temples and their religious celebrations in an arbitrary, unconstitutional, and illegal manner.

    The PIL plea also prays for a direction to permanently restrain the State Government from taking over or to declare the Melas and Festivals of Temples in the State of Uttar Pradesh as Government Melas.

    For context, under the impugned notification/order, the fairs/melas being held at Maa Lalita Devi Shaktipeeth, Naimisharanya, district Sitapur / Maa Vindhyavasini Shaktirith, district Mirzapur / Maa Pateshwari Shaktipeeth, Devipatan Tulsipur, district Balrampur and Shakumbhari Mata Temple, district Saharanpur have been declared as state/government fairs.

    These melas attract lakhs of devotees every year during Navratri. The Uttar Pradesh government has justified its decision to declare these melas as government-organized events, stating that it would help the district administration provide essential facilities for the devotees. Additionally, the government aims to elevate these melas to international standards.

    Advocates Vishesh Kanodia and Satya Sabharwal drafted the petition with the assistance of Advocate Arpit Malvya.

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