‘Authorities not to act on oral orders’: SC allows live streaming, puja of Ram Mandir function in Tamil Nadu

The Supreme Court on Monday, January 22, directed the Tamil Nadu government not to reject the requests for live streaming of Lord Ram Lalla’s consecration ceremony in Ayodhya or impose a ban on puja at the temples in the state. The Supreme Court was hearing a petition against alleged restrictions imposed by the state on performing any puja at temples and live streaming of the event at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

“We believe and trust that the authorities will act in accordance with the law and not on the basis of any oral instructions,” observed a two-judge bench of Justices Sanjiv Khannad and Dipankar Datta, according to LiveLaw.

The directions of the SC bench came after the Tamil Nadu Government submitted before the court that there is no ban on organising the live screenings of the ‘pran-pratishtha’ ceremony of Lord Ram at Ayodhya. The Tamil Nadu government also told the court that there is no such ban on performing special poojas, bhajans or annadhanams to mark the occasion, the report added.

The petition in the Supreme Court was filed by Vinoj P Selvam, through Senior Advocate P Valliappan and Advocate on Record G Balaji.

According to the plea, the Tamil Nadu government banned all types of poojas, archana, annadanam (feeding the poor) and bhajans on the occasion. The petitioner pleaded that such arbitrary exercise of power by the state government (through police officials) violates the fundamental rights, reported news agency ANI.

According to Deccan Herald, the apex court also observed, “This is a homogenous society, do not prevent only on this ground (that there are other communities).

The issue came to light after the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman on Sunday, January 21, wrote X about the issue.

“Tamil Nadu govt has banned watching the live telecast of Ayodhya Ram Mandir programmes of 22 Jan 24. In Tamil Nadu, there are over 200 temples for Shri Ram. In HR&CE managed temples no puja/bhajan/prasadam/annadanam in the name of Shri Ram is allowed,” the Finance Minister posted.

She added, “Police are stopping privately held temples also from organising events. They are threatening organisers that they will rip off pandals. Strongly condemn this anti-Hindu, hateful action.”

Meanwhile, the ‘pran-pratistha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla was held at Ayodhya Ram Temple in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.