RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Feb 17: The Jharkhand High Court on Friday refused to interfere in the matter of prohibitory orders issued by the Deoghar district administration in the wake of the Maha Shivratri festival on February 18.
The development took place during the hearing of a PIL filed by Godda MP Nishikant Dubey challenging the prohibitory order of the district administration on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
Notably, the district administration has enforced section 144 of CrPC in the district and directed not to keep the height of any tableau more than 12 feet during the progress of Shiv Barat organized on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
The administration directed the organizers to stick to the old route against the will of the organisers to take a procession on a new route keeping the possibility of big crowds this year as mass gatherings did not take place due to pandemic guidelines for the last two years.
The MP challenged the administration order saying that it is not in the public interest. He, through his petition, has pointed out that it will hurt the religious sentiment of people.
A division bench headed by acting Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh refused interfering in the matter, dismissed the petition and directed the district administration to let common people know about the administrative order through loudspeakers and television. Before delivering its order the court talked to the Deoghar DC through video conferencing and took first-hand information regarding the motive behind the order.
Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan and Advocate Piyush Chitresh argued in the court on behalf of the state government. Advocate Prashant Pallav, Diwakar Upadhyay and Advocate Partha Jalan presented their side on behalf of Dubey.
Meanwhile, Deoghar DC Manjunath Bhajantri confirmed the development saying that the attempt was made to mislead the Jharkhand High Court through this PIL, but the court noticed the attempt. He said that the direction to limit the height of tableau was given keeping the overhead electric wire in mind and the purpose of imposing section 144 was to maintain law and order during the festival in the district.
