NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to urgently list a plea challenging an Allahabad High Court order restraining the use of a school playground in Uttar Pradesh’s Tundla for holding Ramlila celebrations.
A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh agreed to urgently list the matter for hearing on Thursday (September 25), after it was mentioned for urgent hearing.
The special leave petition (SLP) filed by the Ramlila Committee contended that the Allahabad High Court passed an ex parte order without giving it an opportunity to be heard.
In its interim order passed on Monday, a Bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra of the Allahabad High Court, while hearing a PIL alleging misuse of a school playground by an unnamed person/ purported Ramlila Committee, had observed serious irregularities in the manner the event was being allowed inside a government school.
The Allahabad High Court noted submissions that the entire playground had been covered with cement interlocking tiles to permanently convert it into a venue for such events, thereby depriving school children of a space to play.
“Further, the main gate of the school itself has been converted into a 'Sita Ram Gate' and various swings, etc., have been put at the main gate of the school, ” further noted the CJ Bhansali-led Bench.
The PIL also highlighted concerns about the disruption of academic activities.
“The teaching activities for a period of over eighteen days during which the Ramlila would be performed, would be badly affected inasmuch as a huge stage, etc., have been put up along with furniture for the purpose in the school premises, ” the order noted.