Cuttack/Puri: No commercial stalls will be opened between Badashankha and Gundicha Temple along the Bada Danda or Grand Road during Rath Yatra.
The Puri Municipality today informed the Orissa High Court that only stalls intended for public service can be opened on the road stretch. After a reply from Puri Municipality, the High Court has put an end to the case.
Earlier, a notice was issued by the Puri Municipality to open commercial stalls between Badashankha and Gundicha Temple. However, an activist Rajat Sahu moved the High Court against the civic body’s move.
Today, a bench consisting of Orissa High Court Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Sabitri Ratho the directed to strictly follow the guidelines of NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) and the guidelines issued by the Municipal Corporation.
It is worth noting that a notification was issued by the Puri Municipality to open commercial stalls in Badadanda during the Rath Yatra. For this, tenders were invited from prospective traders.
The petitioner approached the High Court and pointed out that no commercial stall can be opened on the National Highway as per NHAI rules. NHAI has restrictions on opening such stalls. But this rule has been violated and tenders have been called for opening commercial stalls on behalf of Puri municipality. Therefore, the petitioner prayed for the cancellation of this notification. Following this, the High Court sought a reply from the Puri municipality.
Today, Puri Municipality apprised the Orissa HC that commercial stalls will not be opened on Badadanda. “But if a stall is opened to provide any kind of service to the devotees coming for the Rath Yatra or either by the Red Cross, then there will be no hindrance,” the High Court has clarified in the order.
Senior advocate Prafulla Kumar Rath was handling the case on behalf of the petitioner.
