Delhi Chhath Puja Controversy: What Does the High Court's Denial Mean for the Festival?

"Legal Battle over Chhath Puja in Delhi: What Are the Implications for Tradition and Public Safety?"

Delhi High Court on Wednesday denied permission to the devotees to perform Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna river in the national capital due to severely contaminated water and toxic foams.A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed at the High Court challenging the ban on the ritual, seeking permission to perform the Puja on the banks of Yamuna River. However, the court refused to issue any directions and cited the severe water contamination in the river.What Did The Court Say?A bench led by the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court stressed that if people were allowed to perform Puja in the river, it could lead to health issues. The court referred to a recent incident in which an individual fell ill after taking a dip in the polluted water and was hospitalised.Dismissing the petition, The High Court underlined that around 1,000 alternative locations had been designated for the puja, with adequate arrangements made for the celebration. The Court stated that there are other ghats and designated areas where people can perform the puja safely.“It will be very harmful to you. The fact is that the river is so polluted that if you dip into it, there is the likelihood that. A person will suffer harm. We can’t allow that. The river itself is highly polluted,” the bench said.More to follow…