SC rebukes Tamil Nadu govt over ban on live telecast of Ram Lalla’s ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony

financialexpress.com:

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Tamil Nadu government’s alleged oral directive to prohibit live telecasts of the ‘Pran Prathishta’ of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya in temples across the state.

The top noted that the state cannot ban such events merely because Hindus are considered a “minority” in certain areas. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on January 29.

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A division bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta recorded in its order: “We believe and trust that the authorities will act in accordance with law and not on the oral instructions… The authorities will examine the application seeking permission for such a live telecast and deal with it in accordance with the law. If rejected, then reasons shall be given for rejection of any such requests,” ANI reported.

The bench bashed the Tamil Nadu government for issuing what they deemed a broad and unjust order, stating that permissions cannot be denied solely based on the presence of other communities in the location. Describing these orders as “atrocious,” the apex court directed the state not to summarily reject such permissions.

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The Supreme Court also issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government in response to a plea filed by BJP’s State Unit Secretary Vinoj P Selvam, challenging the oral order that banned the live telecast of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla in temples across the state.

In its defence, the Tamil Nadu government informed the top court that there are no such restrictions, stating no such ban on live telecasts, poojas,