Telangana High Court orders State to hold full-fledged Republic Day parade with public participation

The Telangana High Court today ordered the State government to celebrate the Republic Day with full fervor and to hold the annual Parade allowing the citizens to participate in the celebrations [K Srinivas vs State of Telangana]..Single-judge Justice P Madhavi Devi refused to accept the contention of the State that it would hold the event only at the Raj Bhavan without public attendance owing to the prevalent COVID-19 threat. "The Republic Day being a National Festival, has to be celebrated with national fervor, grandeur, gaiety and enthusiasm. This Court deems it fit and proper to direct the State government to celebrate the Repubtic Day including the Republic Day parade by following the Guidelines issued by the Central Government to the best of its abitity at the place of its choice befitting the occasion and also permitting participation of the public at large," the judge said.The State had said that it will live stream the proceedings from Raj Bhavan but the Court refused to accept the same. "The submission of the learned Advocate General that preparations are being made for web casting of the celebrations at Raj Bhavan to reach the citizens far and wide and the public at large, is not satisfactory to say that the celebrations are being held in a grand manner befitting the majesty of the occasion," the Court made it clear..The order was passed on a plea by one K Srinivas seeking a direction to the State to hold the Republic Day celebrations as usual with annual functions along with the parade and public attendance..The Court highlighted that Republic Day has been celebrated throughout the country by Government of India as well as the respective State governments and Union Territories from 1950 as per the guidelines issued by the Central government from time to time. Though there were restrictions in previous years due to COVID-19, the State has not been able to place any guidelines or standard operating procedure (SOP) to be followed at present due to COVID. "Owing to Covid-19 situation, as submitted by all the parties, there were certain restrictions in the celebrations of the Republic Day on earlier occasions. Though the Advocate General is relying upon the Covid-19 situation, he has not been able to place before this Court any guidelines issued by the State and the SOP to be followed in any official function as on date due to Covid-19 situation," the bench noted. .The judge, further noted that the Central government has thought it fit to issue guidelines and all the States and Union Territories are bound to follow the same to the best of their ability and in a manner befitting the occasion. It also noted the fact that the State has not expressed any impediment in celebrating the Republic Day except for the Covid-19 guidelines. .Senior Advocate T Suryakaran Reddy appeared for the Petitioner. Advocate General BS Prasad represented the State. Deputy Solicitor General Gadi Praveen Kumar represented the Central government. .[Read Order]