In a letter addressed to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Supreme Court judge Justice Joseph Kurian has said the places of worship in Delhi should also be opened.
He also said that there is no reason to keep places of worship closed when other things are opening and operating.
“It is very heartening and relieving to learn that the intensity of the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly come down in Delhi… many activities like restaurants, bars, theatres, and auditoriums have been permitted to resume operations with 50 per cent of the seating capacity… Weekly markets and spas are also permitted. The permissible number of people who can attend services like funerals and marriage has been increased to 100. These are positive markers indicating the society getting back to normalcy," Justice Joseph wrote in the latter.
He added “It is a matter of fact that allowing people to attend religious worships and services would only help in alleviating their deep stress and it would only infuse them with positivity, hope, inner strength, and confidence, which is the need of the hour. I may also like to bring to your kind notice that in the above factual background, prohibition of services in places of public worship will be discriminatory and may amount to a denial of the Constitutional rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 25.”
He emphasised that all the Covid-19 protocols should be followed.
