Show restraint avoid large congregations Delhi HC appeals ahead of Christmas New Year
New Delhi Dec 24 PTI The Delhi High Court on Friday appealed to the people to show restraint and avoid large congregations in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases as it took on record the city disaster management bodys decision to permit the opening of religious places on Christmas and New Years eveA bench headed by Justice Vipin Sanghi who was hearing a petition challenging the sudden prohibition on religious gatherings in the national capital before Christmas said that it was clear from the clarification issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority DDMA on December 23 that religious places were open for offering prayers and celebrations subject to the attendees following Covid-appropriate behaviourThe bench also comprising Justice Jasmeet Singh observed that in view of the DDMA decision the petitioner was satisfied and had no further grievancesIn light of the aforesaid it is clear that temples mosques churches gurudwaras etc are open for visitorsdevotees to offer prayersdevotion celebrations within such places subject to strict compliance of SoPs for such places issued from time to time and adherence of Covid appropriate behaviour namely wearing of masks maintaining social distancing regular hand washing and use of sanitisers etc the court statedWe appeal to the people to avoid large congregations in light of number of active cases of COVID-19 and to show restraint the court urgedThe petitioner a Christian senior citizen contended in the plea that a blanket ban on religious gatherings struck at the very sacrosanct right of a citizens right to practice and profess his or her religionThe petition stated that Christmas is the only festival celebrated by Christians across all the country and it ought to be permitted to be celebrated in the national capital subject to compliance of COVID-19 protocolsLawyer Sameer Vashisht appearing for the Delhi government said that the petitioners grievances stood remedied by the DDMAs clarification Amid a rise in coronavirus cases and the threat of the Omicron variant of concern the DDMA had on December 22 directed district magistrates to ensure no Christmas and New Year gathering takes place in the national capitalOn December 23 it had however clarified that religious places would remain open on Christmas and New Years eve for celebrations and prayers subject to strict compliance of Covid-appropriate behaviourOn this issue it is to clarify that as per DDMA order no 492 dated December 15 all religious places temples mosques churches gurdwaras etc are already permitted to open for visitorsdevotees to offer prayersdevotion celebrations within such places subject to strict compliance of related SoPs and adherence of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour DDMA had stated PTI ADS ZMN
New Delhi Dec 24 PTI The Delhi High Court on Friday appealed to the people to show restraint and avoid large congregations in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases as it took on record the city disaster management bodys decision to permit the opening of religious places on Christmas and New Years eveA bench headed by Justice Vipin Sanghi who was hearing a petition challenging the sudden prohibition on religious gatherings in the national capital before Christmas said that it was clear from the clarification issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority DDMA on December 23 that religious places were open for offering prayers and celebrations subject to the attendees following Covid-appropriate behaviourThe bench also comprising Justice Jasmeet Singh observed that in view of the DDMA decision the petitioner was satisfied and had no further grievancesIn light of the aforesaid it is clear that temples mosques churches gurudwaras etc are open for visitorsdevotees to offer prayersdevotion celebrations within such places subject to strict compliance of SoPs for such places issued from time to time and adherence of Covid appropriate behaviour namely wearing of masks maintaining social distancing regular hand washing and use of sanitisers etc the court statedWe appeal to the people to avoid large congregations in light of number of active cases of COVID-19 and to show restraint the court urgedThe petitioner a Christian senior citizen contended in the plea that a blanket ban on religious gatherings struck at the very sacrosanct right of a citizens right to practice and profess his or her religionThe petition stated that Christmas is the only festival celebrated by Christians across all the country and it ought to be permitted to be celebrated in the national capital subject to compliance of COVID-19 protocolsLawyer Sameer Vashisht appearing for the Delhi government said that the petitioners grievances stood remedied by the DDMAs clarification Amid a rise in coronavirus cases and the threat of the Omicron variant of concern the DDMA had on December 22 directed district magistrates to ensure no Christmas and New Year gathering takes place in the national capitalOn December 23 it had however clarified that religious places would remain open on Christmas and New Years eve for celebrations and prayers subject to strict compliance of Covid-appropriate behaviourOn this issue it is to clarify that as per DDMA order no 492 dated December 15 all religious places temples mosques churches gurdwaras etc are already permitted to open for visitorsdevotees to offer prayersdevotion celebrations within such places subject to strict compliance of related SoPs and adherence of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour DDMA had stated PTI ADS ZMN
