uttarakhand-hc-halts-ban-on-triveni-ghat-aarti

In the ongoing dispute regarding the Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat, the Uttarakhand High Court ruled that the Shri Ganga Sabha may proceed with the ceremony, provided they adhere to specific court-mandated conditions.

 

The proposal to stop the ‘aarti’ was passed by the Rishikesh Municipal Corporation, issuing an order to stop the Shri Ganga Sabha from performing the ritual. The corporation, in its case, pleaded that the organisation’s (Sabha) registration had expired, and therefore, legally it had no right to conduct the ‘aarti.’ With this, the corporation also alleged commercial exploitation and littering against the sabha. As a response, the sabha then filed a petition before the high court challenging the corporation's order.  

 

The vacation bench of Justice Ashish Nainthani made the decision on Friday.

 

The high court, emphasising the cultural significance of the ‘aarti,’ observed that it is not merely a religious ritual but an ancient cultural and civilisational heritage of the Indian subcontinent, and stopping it all of a sudden is wrong. HC then cited that abruptly stopping a longstanding tradition, without providing an alternative arrangement, is not in the public interest and could cause significant inconvenience to pilgrims and tourists.

 

 

While the HC recognised that the registration of the Shri Ganga Sabha has indeed expired and that it does not possess a permanent right to perform the ‘aarti,’ it deemed it necessary to allow the ritual to continue as a temporary arrangement.

 

HC also directed that the Shri Ganga Sabha must not charge any entry fee or collect money from devotees wishing to participate in or observe the aarti. The sabha is also prohibited from taking any commission or rent from local shopkeepers selling flowers, lamps, and other prayer-related items without the municipal corporation's permission, HC said.

 

The responsibility for ensuring cleanliness at the ghat will rest entirely with the Shri Ganga Sabha. After the aarti, the proper disposal of remnants such as flowers, camphor, and oil will be mandatory to prevent pollution of the river, the court noted.

 

The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for March 25. Until then, the municipal corporation's order restraining the Shri Ganga Sabha from conducting the ‘aarti’ has been stayed.