The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea challenging the DDMA's decision prohibiting devotees from performing Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna here. There was no merit in the petition, the high court said, adding that the plea filed by two societies did not point out as to how the devotees insist that they are entitled to perform the puja only on the Yamuna banks.
“They have not given any explanation as to why they did not approach the respondents if they were desirous of having additional designated sites in the area even after the list of designated sites was made public,” Justice Rekha Palli said and orally observed that the petition was only for publicity.
The court, while dismissing the petition, said the petitioner's counsel does not dispute the fact that the puja has already commenced today and no order for creation of additional sites can be passed.
The court said it was in agreement with the government counsel that the orders issued by the authorities take care of religious sentiments of all devotees and even though COVID-19 has not fully disappeared, the respondents have ensured and taken steps that devotees are not put to inconvenience.