Aryan Gover
The vacation bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising of Justice Suresh Gupte and Justice Abhay Ahuja, was hearing the petitions filed by two temple trusts- Shree Trust Atman Kamal Labdhisurishwarji Jain Gyanmandir Trust and Sheth Motisha Religious and Charitable Trust.
The petitioners sought permission to provide Ayambil Oli Tap food during the nine-day fasting period of the Jain community.
They did not seek reopening of dining halls in temples like previous years, but only the permission to let devotees pick up packets of boiled, non-spicy pious food that is prepared specially during the fasting period, from the temple in specific slots from April 19 to 27.
The Court found the request reasonable and has asked the Maharashtra government to respond to the same. To the petitioning temple trusts, the bench asked them to find a workable solution to avoid flocking of devotees at the temple to collect the food parcels.
Jyoti Chavan, additional government pleader, stated that the state government would not permt the take away of food as congregation of people is to be avoided to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as per recent Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The bench then suggested that the trust appoint volunteers to deliver food instead of having volunteers congregate near the temple.
Chavan contended this, stating that this arrangement would be biased against other communities since another bench of the HC had refused permission to the trustees of Juma Masjid to allow 50 devotees to offer prayers five times a day during the month of Ramzan.
However, Chavan also added that if entering the places of worship did not arise, and a workable solution for food delivery as per SOPs could be followed, the state could take the request into consideration.