Plea filed in Supreme Court seeking permission to open Jain temple during Paryushan starting from August 15

The Shri Parshwatilak Shwetambar Murtipujak Jain Trust has moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to keep Jain Temples open during the Paryushan festival which starts on August 15. The petition challenges an interim order passed by the Bombay High Court on August 13..In light of the restrictions imposed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jain Trust has moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to keep the Temple open during the Paryushan period commencing on August 15. .The petition has been moved in the wake of a Bombay High Court order refusing to allow the temple's reopening citing the COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra..[COVID-19] "God is within us and God is everywhere", cannot allow prayer to reopen places of worship at this stage: Bombay HC.It is the case of the petitioner-trust that directing closure of religious places when other establishments have been granted permission to open while maintaining safety norms is in violation of Article 14 as well as Articles 25 to 28 of the Constitution. The plea assails the direction for such closure passed by the State of Maharashtra, contending, ."...directing closure of religious places including Temples and not permitting opening of the religious places in the State of Maharashtra is arbitrary, unreasonable and without any basis.".It is also submitted that Temples play a role in the promotion of economic affairs since "temple economy is accepted to have a substantial contribution to the State's economy due to consumption of puja material, prasad material, and also the employment of staff.".The plea adds that there is no justification not allowing the opening of the temples for its followers and devotees.."This discrimination against the temple trusts, worshippers as well as industries dependant on such temples, infringes their rights under Article 14 of the Constitution", the plea adds..Moreover, the order of the High Court is "contrary to the settled law" the petitioner states, highlighting that Paryushan is the most important religious ritual followed annually by the followers of the Jain faith. .In light of the cancellation of many other rituals such as the Rath yatra, the petitioner makes a case for allowing at least the opening of the temples during Paryushan, with conditions that safety measures will be followed..Entry points to Puri to be closed, curfew to be imposed: The Supreme Court's conditions for allowing the Jagannath Rath Yatra.The plea has been filed through Advocate Surjendu Sankar Das. Senior Counsel Dushyant Dave will be representing the petitioner and will be instructed by Advocate Bhavik G Lalan.