Holiday Declared By States On Jan 22 For Ram Temple Consecration Fosters Secularism: Bombay HC

With the Ram temple consecration at Ayodhya set for January 22, various state governments have declared a public holiday on the day.

In Maharashtra, four students had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the state government's declaration of the holiday on January 22.

The Maharashtra government had issued an order on Friday, January 19, declaring a public holiday in the state.

The Bombay High Court, in a hearing conducted on Sunday - January 21 - rejected the PIL.

What did the Court state while rejecting the PIL?

The Bombay High Court stated that in a country of diverse religions, the decision of the state declaring a holiday on the day fosters secularism.

ANI

Even the Supreme Court had observed that declaration of public holidays is within the realm of executive policy, the HC noted.

"Consistent view that has been taken by court's that declaration of holidays which as a matter or policy based on religious requirements cannot be an arbitrary decision... but it is in consonance with the secular principles."

Why had the students filed the PIL challenging the state holiday on Jan 22?

The four students who had filed the petition are Shivangi Agarwal, Satyajeet Siddharth Salve, Vedant Gaurav Agarwal and Khushi Sandeep Bangia, from MNLU, Mumbai, GLC and NIRMA law school.

The law students argued that declaring a public holiday to celebrate a religious event would be in violation of the principles of secularism enshrined in the Constitution, according to which the state cannot associate with or promote any religion.

Representative image/ IT

The petition stated, "Any policy regarding declaration of public holidays cannot be at the whims and fancies of the political party in power. Holiday can be declared perhaps to commemorate a patriotic personally or historic figure but not to celebrate consecration of Ram Lalla to appease a particular section of the society or religious community."

Other states that have declared a holiday on Jan 22

Other than Maharashtra, the states that have public holiday on January 22, 2024 are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Chattisgarh and Uttarakhand.

A number of states have declared a dry day on January 22, which includes Uttarakhand and Assam, among other states.

You can view the full list of states declaring public holidays and dry days here.

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