SC Permits Ram Lila at UP School Grounds but with Conditions, says, “It has been going on for the past 100 years”

After observing that the event of ‘Rama Lila’ was organized in the same venue for over a century, the Supreme Court (SC) of India granted permission for hosting the event on a school ground in Uttar Pradesh, although the grounds are not to be used for religious activities. The three-judge bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, and Justice N Kotiswar Singh stated, “Although we don’t approve of holding religious festivities in school grounds, this Ram Lila has been going on for the past 100 years, and festivities for this year began on September 14”. It also disapproved the order passed by the Allahabad High Court (HC) barring the event. The HC’s order reads, “In the circumstances of the case, wherein action of the respondents in permitting holding of such activities by unknown persons/purported Ram Lila Committee, is ex-facie illegal and therefore, the respondents are restrained from permitting the use of school premises for holding of the 'Ram Lila', which is indicated, is likely to start today.”

During the proceedings, the top court bench questioned the petitioner for filing the case after the festivities had begun. The bench quoted “Neither you are a student nor you are a parent of the students. What interest do you have in stopping the festivities?” He replied that the venue was used between 7 pm to 10 pm, restricting the students from using the ground for recreational activities, and also the school authorities started to construct a concrete wall. All these triggered him to lodge a plea in the High Court. Understanding this, the SC suggested that the HC could have made the District Administration look for an alternative venue. The bench ordered, “However, having regard to the fact that festivities has been used for past 100 years, we request the High Court to resolve the issue for identifying some other alternative site for such festivals, so that the playground of the school can be used by the students.”

The top court also directed the district administration to submit a proposal to its stakeholders, with the petitioner as a party in the meeting, before issuing the final directions. It said, “We request the HC to accord a hearing not only to the petitioner but other stakeholders as well, who also might be required to be heard before any final order is passed.” Lastly, the SC opined, “...festivities are allowed to continue subject to the condition that no inconvenience will be caused to the students and no obstruction shall be created in their sports activities.”