Date:13/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/13/stories/2007101354020400.htm

New Delhi

High Court refuses to stay Ramlila at Red Fort ground

Staff Reporter

Stay sought by an NGO because of environmental issues

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to stay the staging of Ramlila in the sprawling ground in front of the Red Fort here.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Justices T.S. Thakur and Veena Birbal refused to stay the Ramlila and posted the matter to October 22 for further hearing.

A non-government organisation, Saaraansh, had sought a stay on the Ramlila as well as quashing of the permission granted by the Archaeological Survey of India to two religious organisations to perform Ramlila.

Saaraansh submitted that the permission to stage Ramlila would result in damage to the greenery of the garden developed in the ground as well as to the monument. It submitted that there was no justification for granting permission as there was a complete ban on organising any public function in the ground since 2003.

However, ASI counsel Meira Bhatia submitted that her client had granted permission in keeping with the guidelines framed by it. She submitted a copy of the guidelines to the Court.

The guidelines, among other things, ask the two organisations to keep the show open to all, not allow commercial activities during the performance and desist from activities likely to damage the garden or the monument.