COVID-19: "Consider reopening temples in a graded manner as per your assessment", Orissa HC to State [Read Order]

On Monday, the Orissa High Court requested the State Government to consider re-opening temples in a graded manner, after assessing the COVID-19 situation..The Court was hearing a petition seeking a direction to the State to extend financial relief to the Sevayat/Servitors of registered temples for the duration of the COVID-19 lockdown..The Bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Dr BR Sarangi made the suggestion as an alternative measure that the State may implement. The order reads:.“... we direct the opposite parties-State Government and the Endowment Commissioner to … take a view … for opening of temples, in graded manner, according to modalities it may decide, as per its assessment, from place to place and time to time, as per earlier orders of this Court, as expeditiously as possible.".The petitioners had sought financial assistance and ration kits along the lines of those provided to priests at the Jagannath Temple..A Karnataka High Court decision that enjoined the State to assist the servitors in Karnataka C-Graded Temples financially and with ration kits was also cited in support..Apart from this, the petitioner submitted to the Court that the State could work out a plan to permit limited darshans in religious places and a limited entry for the public to places of worship as per the Supreme Court's direction in Nishikant Dubey v. Union of India..Baidyanath Temple: "Virtual Darshan is no Darshan", SC asks govt to consider opening places of worship; no stay on Jharkhand HC order .The State, however, argued that it had never provided financial assistance to the Sevayats of the Jagannath Temple, though a sum of Rs. 5,000 had been provided to the Heads of Sevayat Families, who were also covered by an insurance scheme for the months of May, June, July and August..Assistance to Sevayats would violate Article 27 of the Constitution, it was averred by the State..Instructing the State to examine the grievance raised by the petitioners in their representation, the Court left it to the State to take a final decision as regards providing ration and financial assistance..In the alternative, the Court mooted to the State the possibility of reopening temples in a graded manner if it were found feasible..This exercise was directed to be undertaken within eight weeks of the Court’s order..With these directions, the writ petition was disposed of..Times of India reports that on Thursday, the Chief Secretary directed District Collectors across the State to submit plans of action for the reopening of places of worship..Recently, the Orissa State Government extended its directive to close places of worship till October 31..In the litigation before the High Court, Senior Advocate L Pangari represented the petitioners and Additional Government Advocate S Palit argued for the State..Read the Order here: