SC stays Allahabad HC order restraining Ramlila in school playground
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed an Allahabad High Court order that had barred the use of a school playground in Tundla, Uttar Pradesh, for Ramlila celebrations.
A Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and N. Kotiswar Singh, allowed the festivities to continue, with the condition that “no inconvenience is caused to the students and no obstruction is caused in their sports activities.”
The apex court noted submissions from the Ramlila Committee that the event has been held at the ground for over 100 years. During the hearing, the Bench questioned the original petitioner, asking why the plea was filed only after the celebrations began and why prior intervention had not been sought. “You are not the student, not the parent, not the owner of the property, yet you filed a PIL,” the Court observed.
Staying the Allahabad High Court order, the Supreme Court urged the lower court to explore alternative venues for the Ramlila celebrations, ensuring the playground is reserved for students.
The matter was urgently listed for hearing after the Ramlila Committee filed a special leave petition (SLP), arguing that the Allahabad HC had passed the ex parte order without hearing them.
Earlier, a Bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra of the Allahabad High Court had raised concerns about misuse of the school playground. The court noted that the entire playground had been covered with cement interlocking tiles, reportedly to address waterlogging, and that the main gate had been converted into a “Sita Ram Gate” with swings installed, effectively depriving children of space for sports and play.
The HC also highlighted disruption to academic activities, noting that the teaching schedule would be affected over the 18 days of Ramlila, during which stages and furniture were installed. Despite the claim that the event had been held for over a century, the Court questioned the authorisation for the event and observed that the attempt appeared to convert school land into a permanent venue for Ramlila.
“The respondents are restrained from permitting the use of school premises for holding the Ramlila,” the Allahabad HC had ordered, calling the activities by unknown organizers “ex facie illegal.”
With IANS inputs