Keypoints:
- High Court observed that, while the right to follow religious practices is important, public order and safety of citizens during the Covid-19 surge is of “paramount importance”.
- Court said that Covid-19 situation is “serious” and “critical in nature” and it said that “safety of citizens is of utmost importance”.
- In the view of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bombay HC and several other courts in the country in the past had not given permissions to many other religious congregations.
On Wednesday, the Bombay HC refused permission to a city bases trust to allow people to offer namaz in the mosque in South Mumbai, during the period of Ramadan. The court said that this situation of Covid-19 is “serious” and “critical”. It’s said that “safety of citizens is of utmost importance”.
“The right to celebrate or follow a religious practice is important, but what is more paramount and of importance is public order and the safety of citizens,” the court said.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Juma Masjid Mosque Trust which was seeking permission to allow people to offer namaz-five times a day in the mosque during the period of Ramadan. To this, the petitioner also said that the mosque is spread over an acre and around 7,000 people can assemble at a time.
Considering the grim of the Covid-19 situation, at a time only 50 persons would be allowed to offer prayers during the Ramadan period and all safety precautions would be followed, it said.
Additional Government Pleader Jyoti Chavan who appears for the Government of Maharashtra has said that the situation in the city and the state is alarming and the plea was opposed.
“We cannot make an exception to any religion, especially in this 15-day period. We cannot take a risk at this stage and all citizens should cooperate,” Chavan said. She also said that the government is not prohibiting any person to practise his/her religion, but they should do it in their homes.
“In our view, the restrictions imposed by the state government are due to the COVID-19 circumstances. Considering the prevailing situation and ground reality in Maharashtra, we cannot permit the petitioner to perform prayers at the mosque,” the HC said. It also said that the government’s order of restrictions is in public interest and for the safety of all residents of Maharashtra.
