New Delhi: The Delhi High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking permission to perform Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna River, news agency ANI reported.
Citing the severe contamination of the Yamuna River, the court refused to issue any directions responding to the PIL which challenged the ban on the ritual.
The bench led by the Chief Justice of Delhi highlighted potential health issues from contamination in the river, referring to the case of an individual falling ill after having taken a dip in the polluted water.
Dismissing the petition, the court pointed to the nearly 1,000 alternative locations and ghats arranged for performing puja for the celebration.
Hearing the plea filed by the Purvanchal Nav Nirman Sansthan seeking permission to perform puja on the river banks, the court observed the ban was imposed to warn people against falling ill from bathing in toxic water.
The petitioner argued that permission was denied during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that restrictions are now imposed, preventing people from performing puja in the traditional manner.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government’s counsel told the court that alternative arrangements were made in other locations for puja.
The four-day Chhath festival began with the traditional 'Nahay Khay' on Tuesday.
Toxic foam floating on the river's surface overshadowed sprits of the devotees gathered about the bank to perform ritual bath, according to the report.