In a notable decision, the Delhi High Court has emphasized that past untoward incidents should not automatically prevent the holding of religious events, such as the Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri. The court has directed the Delhi Police to reconsider their earlier refusal to permit the procession scheduled for April 12.
Justice Sachin Datta addressed the issue following a plea challenging the police’s decision to deny permission for the event. The plea highlighted that despite previous occurrences, including a violent clash during the 2022 Hanuman Jayanti procession which resulted in injuries to eight police officers and a civilian, religious practices should continue as per tradition.
The court’s order from April 9 acknowledged the police’s concerns about potential law and order challenges but emphasized the importance of evaluating each event on its current merits rather than past incidents alone. “It is incumbent on the respondents/police authorities to make adequate security arrangements,” Justice Datta stated, pushing for a timely and suitable examination by senior police officials.
The petitioner, who has been organizing the Hanuman Jayanti procession since 2010, argued that the event had been consistently denied approval since 2019. The court has now asked for a fresh application from the petitioner that clearly outlines the proposed route and duration of the procession, aiming to address the police’s law and order concerns effectively.
