Iskcon allowed to hold Rath Yatra, told to comply with police conditions
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Vijayawada: The high court on Friday directed the representatives of Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) to conduct the Rath Yatra on July 5, complying with conditions imposed by the police.
The court said it is not inclined to interfere with the decision of the police as it is an issue involving law and order.
Iskcon representatives moved the high court challenging the denial of police permission for the Rath Yatra. A single judge bench of the high court, after hearing the petition, earlier directed the police to give permission for the Rath Yatra. Challenging the orders, police preferred an appeal.
Advocate general Dammalapati Srinivas said police denied permission as the proposed Rath Yatra is scheduled to be held on July 5, which is also the day Moharram is being observed, and police have already given permission for Moharram procession.
Another reason for the denial of permission was that both the Moharram procession and the Rath Yatra are going on the same route, and there is a chance of a law and order problem if both processions intersect.
Considering the submissions of the advocate general, the high court asked representatives of Iskcon to discuss an alternative route. On Friday, the advocate general told the high court that, pursuant to its orders, police suggested different times for holding the procession for different groups so that they won't cross each other. Considering the submissions, the HC bench headed by Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Ravi Cheemalapati observed that the issue is very sensitive and they are not inclined to interfere with the decision of the police.
As the parties to the litigation came to an understanding, the HC disposed of the petition with an observation that the police can impose reasonable restrictions on the processions to ensure no untoward incidents take place.
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