No Chhath Puja Celebration On Yamuna Banks As Delhi HC Junks PIL Against Blanket Ban

The court was informed by the Delhi Government that Yamuna riverbed is highly polluted and if the devotees are allowed to perform Chhath Puja on the riverbed, they can fall sick.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a PIL against the blanket ban on performance of Chhath puja by public in Delhi and allow the public to perform the Puja at Geeta Colony Ghats on the Yamuna riverbed.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela rejected the PIL and said that performance of Chhath Puja on the Yamuna riverbed will be harmful for the devotees, keeping in view its pollution level.

The court was informed by the Delhi Government that Yamuna river is highly polluted and if the devotees are allowed to perform Chhath Puja on the riverbed, they can fall sick.

The court also expressed concerns that people should not go into the Yamuna river considering its pollution levels.

However, the petitioner argued that water can be released from Hatnikund for devotees. The court was further informed that the petitioner there was a press conference by government assuring people that they will be able to perform Chhath Puja in Delhi and there will not be a need to travel back to hometowns.

The court however, said that it cannot do anything at the eleventh hour.

The petitioner Purvanchal Nav Nirman Sansthan then requested the court to order cleaning of Yamuna so the puja can be performed next year.

At this point, the bench remarked that there are 800 colonies whose untreated sewage is flowing directly into Yamuna. The court further said if the petitioner seek cleaning of Yamuna, it can file a PIL for that and the court will take their help as well in getting the Yamuna cleaned.

The bench further noted that there are atleast 241 jhuggi dwellers who are living in Yamuna Drain which it said are holding the entire city to ransom as the politicians are making long speeches defending them. The court further remarked that is these jhuggi dwellers are removed then politicians have no slogan to contest elections.

"241 jhuggi dwellers are holding the whole city to ransom. Why? Because water is not being allowed to stroll into Yamuna. The government will not give them a flat or reallocation. They will keep them over there so that the message goes to entire slum dwellers that they are protecting their interest. All politicians will go there and give long speeches..." the Chief Justice of the High Court remarked.