The Delhi High Court has allowed the writ petition filed by Shree Keshav Dharmik Ramleela Committee seeking direction to DDA to allow them to hold Ramleela and Dusshera Celebrations at Maharishi Park (Nepal Wala Bagh) Near Kanhaiya Nagar Metro Station, Tri Nagar.
The single-judge bench granted the Society permission from 24th Sept to 5th October carving an exception as the DDA has reserved the specific sites for the period from 06.09.2022 to 15.10.2022 for certain Committees only, so that the specific sites are not booked for any other social and cultural function by any other Organizing committee through the online mode.
Counsel for the petitioner, Gagan Gandhi submitted that the Society is duly registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 since the year 1993 and is holding Ramleela and Dusshera celebrations in the same park since 1999.
It was further been submitted that earlier DDA had been granting permission to hold Ramleela and Dusshera celebrations at the same venue. He averred that even the Supreme Court in its order in North Delhi Municipal Corporation vs. President Budhela Welfare Association & Anr. has inter alia clarified that the directions of the Supreme Court in M.C. Mehta Vs. Union of India, 2021 Latest Caselaw 196 SC, with regard to the use of parks shall strictly be adhered to and in no circumstances, shall use of parks for the purposes as mentioned in the said judgment be permitted for more than 10 days in a month.
Learned Standing Counsel for DDA has submitted that public parks in Delhi cannot be allowed to use for marriage/commercial purposes and placed reliance on M.C. Mehta Vs. Union of India, 2021 Latest Caselaw 196 SC. She also produced Delhi Dharmik Mahasangh list which contained the name of petitioner-Society.
The Court opined that in view of the Office Order of the DDA and the site, as specified in the list submitted by Delhi Dharmik Mahasangh, the petitioner-Society can be permitted to hold Ramleela and Dusshera celebrations from 24.09.2022 till 05.10.2022 at Maharishi Dayanand Park.
"The petitioner Society shall also follow scrupulously all the safety norms and other norms as prescribed by the NGT, Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, MCD and other connected organisations", the Court said.
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