Supreme Court Dismisses Plea To Allow Millions Of Warkaris To Perform Pilgrimage To Temple In Pandharpur

Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the petition seeking directions to State of Maharashtra to grant permission to Warkaris of Sant Namdev Maharaj Sansthan and other groups of Warkari sect to be allowed to walk from their doorstep till the temple at Pandharpur.

The bench headed by Chief Justice N. V. Ramana was hearing the petition challenging the denial of permission by Maharashtra to carry out the peaceful procession of Dindi which is assimilation of Warkaris who commence their spiritual journey reciting the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. The Pandharpur Wari sought directions to allow warkaris and 250 registered palkis to complete the annual pilgrimage to Lord Vithal Temple, challenging the decision by the Maharashtra government to only allow 10 'palkis'.

"The state of Maharashtra has allowed 10 'palkis' to travel. They have not chosen 1 which is in Pandharpur, which is the bottom of the temple itself. It is the birthplace of Sant Namdev. Please require my 'palki' to be approved", prayed the advocate appearing for the petitioner.

"You know the pandemic. You know the situation in the country. And you want that there should be no restrictions? We cannot do this", said the Chief Justice, dismissing the petition.

Filed through Advocate Swati Vaibhav and drawn by Advocates Rajsaheb Patil and Shreyas Gacche, the plea submitted that there has been a discrimination on grounds of the State Government only allowing a few Warkaris to go for the Pandharpur Wari on behalf of everyone.

Stating that by allowing "in an arbitrary manner" only 10 palkis to form the Dindi instead of the 250 registered palkis, the plea contended that State of Maharashtra will create hardships for the Warkaris from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in completing their wari which normally starts from their home to the temple of Lord Vitthal situated at Pandharpur. 



"The Violation of Article 14, 19(1)(d), 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India. The State of Maharashtra has arbitrarily denied the permission to perform the Vari. The Wari is an age-old tradition. Last year in the wake of Corona Virus the warkaris themselves had not pressed for the wari. But this year the people are more aware about the disease and shall follow the protocol".



The plea further stated that the wari itself is a well-planned and disciplined ritual, and that there exists no reason to provide them with restrictions. In light of the same, not only permission should be granted to allow all groups of Warkaris to start the wari, but the State should make interstate travel arrangement by buses for the Warkaris coming from other States.

It also sought for provisions to be made to allow Warkaris for the wari and for palkhis to be allowed from across the country. Further, directions were sought to be given to the State to keep the temple open for 24 hours for darshan of Warkaris throughout the country.

Sant Namdev Maharaj Sansthan v/s State of Maharastra