‘Some pray, others drink’: SC won’t shut bar near temple | India News – Rashtra News : Rashtra News
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NEW DELHI: Mere proximity of a bar to a place of worship, if the statutorily prescribed distance of 100 metres is maintained between the two, is no ground for shutting the watering hole, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday, observing that while some want to pray, others may want to have a drink.
The apex court was hearing a petitioner who appealed against a decision of the Madras high court refusing to close down or relocate Jothy Bar, 114.5m from the entrance of Throwbathiammam Temple in Puducherry.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Nandkumar said, “Even if the bar is not closed down, it can be relocated in deference to public sentiments.” He told a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna that because of the small distance between bar and temple, many people get drunk and come to the temple and disturb rituals and festivals.
“Once the statutory distance between the two is maintained, there is little the courts can do legally. The temple trust has not objected to the existence of the bar in close proximity. Why should we interfere with HC decision,” Chandrachud said.
A high court bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy on July 16 had set aside a single judge bench’s order directing the authorities to cancel the license of the bar. On appeal, the division bench of the HC said, “The distance from the outer extremity of the precincts of the bar to the entrance of the Throwbathiammam Temple is shown to be 114.5 metre, which is well in excess of the prohibited distance.”
The apex court was hearing a petitioner who appealed against a decision of the Madras high court refusing to close down or relocate Jothy Bar, 114.5m from the entrance of Throwbathiammam Temple in Puducherry.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Nandkumar said, “Even if the bar is not closed down, it can be relocated in deference to public sentiments.” He told a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna that because of the small distance between bar and temple, many people get drunk and come to the temple and disturb rituals and festivals.
“Once the statutory distance between the two is maintained, there is little the courts can do legally. The temple trust has not objected to the existence of the bar in close proximity. Why should we interfere with HC decision,” Chandrachud said.
A high court bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy on July 16 had set aside a single judge bench’s order directing the authorities to cancel the license of the bar. On appeal, the division bench of the HC said, “The distance from the outer extremity of the precincts of the bar to the entrance of the Throwbathiammam Temple is shown to be 114.5 metre, which is well in excess of the prohibited distance.”
( News Source :Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Rashtra News staff and is published from a timesofindia.indiatimes.com feed.)
