Alka Verma –
Published On: November 19, 2021 at 18:11 IST
On Thursday, the Madras High Court informed Tamil Nadu that it has allowed 20,000 devotees to take part in Karthigai Deepam festival, which is scheduled to happen on 19 November 2021, in Tiruvannamalai City.
However, the Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice M. Duraiswamy and Justice J. Sathya Narayana Prasad also cleared the fact that the Court is not allowing any of the devotee to enter the Annamalaiyar temple.
Adding to this, the Court also stated that they can be a part the festival by witnessing it from Girivalam.
“In all, 20,000 devotees per day should be permitted on 19.11.2021 and 20.11.2021 to circumambulate the holy hill (to go on Girivalam),” stated the Court.
Adding to this, the Court also warned the District Administration as well as Police authorities not to allow anyone to take any other routes or to climb up any mountain to witness the festival from close.
The Court made these directions while dealing with a PIL filed by D Senthilkumar of the Hindu Makkal Katchi.
In his Petition, it was contented that the taking the consideration of COVID situation, Government has only allowed 13,000 devotees in Girivalam.
However, according to the report to Advocate General R. Shanmugasundaram, 20,000 devotees can be allowed to gather on mountain, but no one can be allowed to stay in city.
The Court after considering the PIL, observed, “We are of the considered view that the Respondent authorities can make necessary arrangements for granting permission to 20,000 devotees per day on 19.11.2021 and 20.11.2021 and the increase of 7,000 devotees per day on those two days shall not matter much for the state government considering the vast extent of the holy hill and the sanctity attached to the temple festival/ritual.”
“Copy of the order will be uploaded today itself after its dictated in the Chambers. The Order won’t be applicable for today, it will be applicable only from tomorrow. The District Administration has to make arrangements to accommodate the people,” it added.
Accordingly, the Court allowed the Petition and gave permission to 20,000 devotees to attend the festival.