After having failed to get permission for conducting the Rath Yatra of the Baladevjew temple from the Government and the Orissa High Court, some servitors of the temple led by Madan Patri have moved the Supreme Court by challenging the HC order. A special leave petition was filed by Patri seeking the apex court’s directive to the Odisha Government to allow celebration of the Rath Yatra at the Baladevjew temple amid strict adherence of the Covid guidelines. In the plea, Patri too prayed before the Supreme Court that the Car festival of Lord Baladevjew can be organised without devotees to prevent spread of Corona cases. The petitioner urged for allowing Rath Yatra with the participation of only sevayats following all Covid guidelines, testing and vaccination on line of the annual festival at Puri Jagannath Temple. Notably, the HC had rejected five petitions filed before it seeking permission to hold Rath Yatra at Baladevjew in Kendrapada, popularly known as the Tulasi Khetra. District Collector Amrut Rituraj in mid June had strictly banned Car festival at Baladevjew temple this year and also prohibited Baladevjew Temple Endowment Trust Board from constructing Brahma Taladhwaj chariot. He followed an instruction of State Government on June 10 banning Rath Yatra anywhere in the State, save Puri.