Supreme Court has asked the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) to take cognizance of the representation of Nanded Gurudwara management board seeking permission for Dussehra procession amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Three-judge bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao assembled during the Dussehra vacation of the top court and stated that the matter will be decided on the basis of ground situation.
The bench also comprising Justices Hemant Gupta and Ajay Rastogi has asked the Gurudwara management board to file a representation before Maharashtra SDMA by Tuesday. The court also stated in its order that if the Nanded Gurudwara management board will not be satisfied with the SDMA decision, the board is free to move Bombay High Court.
The apex court was hearing a plea filed by Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Board seeking permission to celebrate the customary procession on account of the 300-year old event — ‘Dusshera, Takht Isnan, Deepmala and Gurta Gaddi’ – with certain conditions.
“Gurdwara Takhat Shri Hazur Abchalnagar is a pious place of world fame for being the last place of tenth Sikh Guru Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji Maharaj, where he granted holy seat of Guru to the Gurugranth Sahiv ji before going to Sachkhand,” the plea said.
On the other hand, Maharashtra government has submitted before that the Supreme Court that giving permissions will not be practically feasible amid this COVID-19 pandemic and the state has taken the decision to check the spread of COVID-19.
