India’s apex court on Thursday did not allow Muharram processions in the country amid a rising number of coronavirus cases in the country, saying it could lead to “chaos” and “targeting of a particular community for spreading Covid-19”.
“If we allow this, there will be chaos and one particular community till be targeted for spreading Covid. We do not want that”, Indian Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde said.
The statement was an apparent reference to the controversy that erupted after a religious event of the Islamic sect Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area earlier this year, which became a hotspot of coronavirus cases. Many people blamed the Muslim gathering for "contributing" to one-third of the cases at the time.
The court’s ruling, however, triggered reactions online, as several people questioned the Supreme Court over the decision and called it “bigoted”.
Others targeted the Supreme Court for allowing college-level entrance exams for medical and engineering students amid the pandemic but cancelling religious processions.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Shia cleric Syed Kalbe Jawad for seeking permission for the Muharram procession, saying the top court had recently allowed Hindus’ Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra (which involves a religious procession) with restrictions amid the pandemic.
He also cited the court’s order on allowing three Jain temples in Mumbai to open during their festival.
However, the Supreme Court’s bench replied: “In both, the petitioners had limited prayers. We cannot pass general directions. Ganesh Chaturthi was not allowed in Tamil Nadu”.
A section of netizens also sided with the court's ruling, saying it would avoid controversy.