- Supreme Court ORDER Dt.22.06.20 pdf (Allowed)
- Affidavit for State of Odisha.pdf (By Resident Commissioner)
- Application for modification of order Dt. 18.06.20.pdf (by Aftab Hossen)
- Supreme Court ORDER Dt.18.06.20 (Stay Order)
In light of assurances made by the state government and the Centre, the Court said,
"Indeed, if it is possible to ensure that there is no public attendance, we see no reason why the Rath Yatra cannot be conducted safely along its usual route from temple to temple."
-- Supreme Court
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While allowing the Rath Yatra in Puri to be conducted from June 23, the Court has subjected the order to the following conditions:
1. Puri to be locked down: All entry points into the City of Puri, i.e., airports, railway stations, bus stands, etc., shall be closed during the period of the Rath Yatra festival.
2. Imposition of Curfew: The Odisha government shall impose a curfew in the City of Puri on all the days and during all the time when Rath Yatra chariots are taken in procession. The curfew can be extended if necessary. During the period of curfew, no one would be allowed to come out of their houses or their places of residence, such as, hotels, lodging houses, etc. The curfew shall begin tonight (June 22) at 8 P.M.
3. Only those who test COVID-19 negative to pull chariots: Each Rath or Chariot shall be pulled by not more than 500 persons. Each of those 500 persons shall be tested for the Coronavirus. They shall be permitted to pull the chariot only if they have been found negative. The number 500 shall include officials and police personnel.
4. Interval in Chariot pulling: There shall be an interval of one hour between two chariots.
5. Social Distancing: Each person engaged in pulling the chariot shall maintain social distancing before, during and after the Rath Yatra.
6. Ritual performers to be COVID-19 negative: Only such persons shall be associated with the rituals who have been found to have tested negative and shall maintain social distancing.
7. Officers in-charge: The primary responsibility for conducting the Rath Yatra in accordance with the conditions and other norms shall be that of the Committee in-charge of the Puri Jagannath Temple administration. Each member of the Committee shall be responsible for due compliance with the conditions imposed by this Court and the general directions which govern ensuring of public health issued by the Centre. In addition, the officers designated by the state government for conduct of the Rath Yatra shall be responsible likewise.
8. Telecast of Rath Yatra: The rituals and the Rath Yatra shall be freely covered by the visual media. The state government shall allow TV cameras to be installed at such places as may be found necessary by the TV crew.
9. Minimum participation: Bare minimum number of people shall be allowed by the Committee to participate in the rituals and in the Rath Yatra.
10. State-Centre coordination: The state government may take such help as may be found necessary from the Union government. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has assured the Court that the Centre shall offer all assistance and help to the in this endeavour.
11. Maintain record of participants: The state government shall maintain a record containing details of all those who have been allowed to participate in the Rath Yatra or the rituals connected therewith along with details of their medical conditions after testing.
