Bombay High Court Rejects Students' PIL Challenging Maharashtra Govt's Holiday For Ram Temple Ceremony

The Bombay High Court rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by four students challenging the Maharashtra government's decision to declare a public holiday on January 22 for the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale dismissed the PIL, calling it "politically motivated, frivolous, and vexatious." The court advised the students to use their time for more productive activities. While the court usually imposes costs on such petitions, it refrained from doing so considering the petitioners' young age.

The Maharashtra government argued that the decision to declare a holiday falls within the executive policy and is not subject to judicial scrutiny. The students claimed the move was a "gross abuse of power for political purposes," especially with an eye on the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The court criticized the PIL for its political overtones and suggested it was filed for publicity. It questioned the wisdom of challenging a Supreme Court order in the plea, expressing concern over the statements' political nature. The court deemed such petitions a "blatant abuse of law" and emphasized they cannot be kept pending.

The court also questioned the inclusion of political remarks in the plea and asked about the motivation behind those statements. It raised concerns about how the media learned of the petition before it was presented in court.

The PIL argued that government involvement in the consecration of a Hindu temple violates secular principles. It contended that public holidays for religious events could lead to educational, financial, and governance losses. The Maharashtra government countered, stating that public holidays for religious events apply to all communities, allowing citizens to observe their practices.