The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices on petition filed against the alleged ban on holding live screenings of Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony or performing special poojas or bhajans in the state. In the hearing, the Tamil Nadu Government told the Supreme Court that there is no ban on holding live screenings of Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony or performing special poojas or bhajans on the occasion in the state. The court recorded the statement.
The top court has issued notices to all parties and directed the Tamil Nadu Govt not to summarily reject requests for live-streaming of the Ram Temple Consecration ceremony. The court was hearing a PIL that claimed the state has banned it.
The court has directed that all rejection orders must show reasons. The court asked the State to maintain a data of the applications received and decisions taken.
A bench of Justices Sanjeev Khanna and Dipankar Datta heard the petition that requested urgent listing and issued notices returnable by Monday next week.
The bench passed order saying that the petition has alleged that oral orders have been issued to ban live telecast, performance of poojas, archanas, annadhanas , bhajans on the occasion of Pran Pratishta of Lord Ram at Ayodhya today. Reliance is placed on some documents in support of the said contention.
Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu appearing for the petition said "that a political party hates religion. That party comes to power. It wants the government also to hate religion.."
Justice Khanna told Senior Advocate Naidu that he was relying on oral orders. And normally, oral orders are not to be acted upon.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that LED screenings in temple are being stopped. And a message should go from the highest court of the land that it is not permitted.
SG Mehta further said that some police stations have passed orders. Naidu said that he has placed the said orders on record.
Justice Khanna observed that "this is a general order. Anybody asking for permission, applications have to be dealt with as per law."
While hearing the case, Justice Datta asked the Tamil Nadu AAG that how can an order be passed rejecting permission on the ground that a minority community is living there?
Saying that "we are living in a homogenous society", Justice Khanna asked the Tamil Nadu AAG to not impose any ban on this ground.
Tamil Nadu AAG then said that "if they have to conduct near a mosque..."
The bench then asked the Tamil Nadu government to "regulate it, don't reject on this reason" and warned "If you reject on this reason, you will be in a problem."
The bench passed order directing the Tamil Nadu Government not to summarily reject requests for live-streaming of the Ram Mandir event. The bench further said that all rejection orders must show reasons and the state should maintain a data of the same.
The case will be heard again on Monday.