The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Jharkhand government and its power distribution company to temporarily cut electricity supply along the routes of Ram Navami processions as a safety measure to prevent electrocution incidents.
This decision came as a modification of an earlier order issued by the Jharkhand High Court, which had barred the authorities from cutting power during religious processions.
The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan, heard submissions from senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on behalf of the JMM-led state government.
Sibal explained that the temporary power cuts have been a long-standing safety practice followed for over 20 years to prevent accidents. He pointed out that participants in Ram Navami processions often carry tall flags and religious emblems, which risk coming into contact with overhead electricity lines, potentially resulting in electrocution.
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Taking these concerns into account, the court permitted the state to proceed with temporary electricity cuts but directed that the outages be minimal and strictly limited to the procession routes. The Bench also stressed that the electricity supply to hospitals and emergency services must not be disrupted under any circumstances during the temporary shutdowns.
In addition, the Supreme Court instructed the head of Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) to provide an undertaking to the High Court, assuring that the power cuts will be kept to the bare minimum and that critical services will continue to function without interruption.
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