Ganesh Chaturthi: Delhi High Court declines to entertain ML Sharma plea filed "without homework"

The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to entertain a petition moved by advocate ML Sharma relating to Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and advertisements about the same on television channels (Manohar Lal Sharma vs UOI and anr).A Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh opined that the plea has been filed "without doing any homework" and the Court will not entertain the same. ."This petition is filed without doing any homework. You file a fresh matter if you want to file. We will not even issue a notice in this," the Court orally remarked, before the petitioner said he would withdraw the plea and file a fresh petition.The Court granted him the liberty to file a fresh plea with proper arguments, allegations and annexures..Sharma, who appeared in-person, submitted that the Delhi government has been advertising about the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations for the "last 15 days" on various television channels. .Relying on SR Bommai's case, Sharma contended that the Delhi government cannot promote religious celebration. ."No State can conduct any religious activity. Delhi government, since last 15 days, are showing advertisements (on) conducting Ganesh puja and that it will be shown on all channels," he informed the Court. .The Court, however, noted that the petition was bereft of any annexures to support the allegation that the Delhi government has been advertising the conduct of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.."Not a single Annexure and you are talking about … You are saying ‘declare celebration, ceremony, advertisement as illegal.' What advertisement? We do not know. Without looking at advertisement, we should declare it as illegal?" the Chief Justice asked..Sharma eventually told the Court that he would file a fresh petition. However, he urged the Court to question the government counsel present in Court about the allegations raised in the plea. ."I will file fresh petition. May I submit one thing? Sorry, it was so horridly drafted, I am not well ... Respondent is present in the court. Just question, If they are going to conduct Ganesh Chaturthi ...?" Sharma requested the Court. .The Bench, however, refused to entertain this plea as well. ."We will not even issue notice", Chief Justice Patel said. .A lighter exchange took place during the hearing as well, when the lawyer briefly appeared to have briefly experienced a power cut at his end of the virtual hearing. ."My light is gone, I am not able to listen to anything. Can Your Lordship hear me? … Light has come (now)," Sharma informed.."You are already in the limelight," Chief Justice Patel responded. .On a related note, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday reportedly notified that there would be no public celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi this year, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Instead, people have reportedly been advised to celebrate the festival at home.