The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed this year’s historic Rath Yatra and related activities at Puri’s Jagannath Temple in Odisha due to COVID-19 pandemic. The annual Rath Yatra at Jagannath Temple was scheduled to be held on 23rd June 2020.
The Supreme Court said the annual Rath Yatra cannot be allowed this year in the interest of public health and safety of citizens.
“Rath Yatra and activities related to it, which will result in huge gathering of people, is injuncted on grounds of public health and safety. Lord Jagannath won’t forgive us if we allow it,” Chief Justice of India SA Bobde remarked while passing the order.
The order was passed in a plea by an NGO Odisha Vikas Parishad which had pointed out the public health risk involved if the annual event is allowed to take place.