Ram Temple Inauguration: PIL Filed in Allahabad HC Seeking Ban on Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony Over 'Incomplete Construction'

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Allahabad High Court seeking a ban on the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol at Ayodhya's Ram temple which is scheduled for January 22.

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Allahabad High Court seeking a ban on the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol at Ayodhya's Ram temple which is scheduled to be held on January 22.

A resident of Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, Bhola Das has approached to high court saying that according to the Hindu calendar, no religious programs should be organised in the month of Paush, the ANI reported.

The PIL has also submitted that the consecration ceremony cannot happen on January 22, since it would be inconsistent with the Sanatana tradition to do it when the temple is still under construction. The petition also pointed out that four Shankaracharyas are considering skipping the consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. 

"A religious program is going to be organised in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024. The idol of Ram Lalla will be installed at the under-construction temple. The ceremony will be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Shankaracharyas have an objection to the Pran Pratistha programme...The temple is still incomplete...no deity can be consecrated," the ANI report quoted from petition.

Swami Nischalanand Saraswati Maharaj, the Shankaracharya of Puri, revealed that the decision by four Shankaracharyas is based on a deviation from established traditions during the installation of the Ram Lalla idol. Swami Nischalanand Maharaj, speaking to ANI, explained why the four Shankaracharyas are not attending the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

"The Shankaracharyas uphold their own dignity. This is not about ego. Are we expected to merely sit outside and applaud when the Prime Minister installs the idol of Ram Lalla? The presence of a 'secular' government does not imply the obliteration of tradition," he was quoted as saying by ANI in its report. 

Meanwhile, there has been much uproar in the opposition over the four Shankaracharyas allegedly skipping the ceremony. The BJP has been accused by opposition parties of politicising the Ram Temple inauguration.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, have stated that the Shankaracharyas have chosen against attending the January 22 event after objecting to the 'Pran Pratishtha' ritual in a 'incomplete temple'.