HC refuses permit to hold function on river bed at Pandharpur

Just as devotees have the right to follow their religion and its practices other citizens also have the right to a clean and pollution-free environment, the Bombay High Court today said while refusing permission to a religious function on river bed at the pilgrimage city of Pandharpur in Solapur district of Maharashtra.
A division bench of Justices A S Oka and Justice A K Menon was hearing an application filed by the devotees seeking permission to erect pandals and perform pujas on the river bed during Ekadashi at Pandharpur.
The devotees were refused permission to do so by the authorities as they would then convert the open spaces in and around the river into toilets which led to manual scavenging.

The court has time and again criticised Maharashtra government for failing to put an end to the practice of manual scavenging and for not constructing enough mobile toilets in the city during the festival when lakhs of people visit it.
The devotees, while seeking permission from the court, had claimed that it was their fundamental right to follow their religion and its practices.
The court, however, refused to accept their contention and said "just as the devotees have the right to follow their religion, every other citizen of this country also has the right to a clean and pollution free environment. Every citizen should have compassion towards each other. The practice of manual scavenging reduces the dignity of a human being."

The court also directed the Railway Board to consider a proposal forwarded by the government seeking permisison to construct toilets in land owned by the Railways.

"The Railways Board shall consider the proposal and take a decision by April 20. If the proposal is approved, then the same shall be implemented by May 15 ahead of the Ekadashi festival in July," the court said.
In October 2009, the Pandharpur Municipal Council had forwarded a proposal of Rs 21 crore to the government seeking to construct 5321 mobile toilets in the city. However, till date no decision has been taken, the court was informed.

Last year, the government assured the court that about 4500 toilets would be constructed there.