Prayagraj, January 18: Two PILs have been filed before the Allahabad High Court regarding the scheduled Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla temple in Ayodhya on January 22. The court declined to expedite proceedings of these petitions, scheduling them for hearings in due course.

In the first PIL, filed by Bhola Singh of Ghaziabad, the petitioner urges the HC to restrict the participation of Prime Minister as well as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in the ceremony. The petitioner proposes this restriction until the completion of 2024 parliamentary elections and till all Sanatan Dharma guru Shankaracharyas grant their consent. Ram Mandir Consecration: Anti-Terrorist Squad Commandoes Deployed To Boost Security in Ayodhya Ahead of Pran Pratishtha Ceremony on January 22.

The petitioner seeks a ban on the January 22 event, arguing that the temple is still under construction, and the Pran Pratishtha of the deity contradicts Sanatan tradition. The petitioner also contends that, according to Hindu calendar, no religious and auspicious programmes should be organised in the month of Paush. Ram Temple Consecration: Group of Nine Women Hold ‘Kalash Jal Yatra’ From Saryu River to Ram Temple in Ayodhya (Watch Video).

In the second PIL, filed by All India Lawyers Union (AILU), the petitioner challenges a circular issued by UP chief secretary on December 21, 2023. The circular instructed district authorities to organise Ram Katha, Ramayana recitations, bhajan-kirtan in Ram, Hanuman, and Valmiki temples, along with Kalash Yatras from January 14 to 22. AILU argues that the directive contradicts basic tenets of the Constitution.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 18, 2024 09:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).