Supreme Court opens 3 Jain temples in Mumbai

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed devotees to offer Paryushan prayers for two days in three Jain temples in Mumbai amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde, was hearing an appeal against the high court order that it did not wish to interfere with the state’s decision of not permitting temples in Mumbai to open for devotees during the eight-day Paryushan from August 15 to 23.

“We direct the petitioners shall follow the SOP (standard operating procedures),” the bench said, permitting devotees to visit Jain temples at Dadar, Byculla and Chembur.

It, however, said that permission for the Ganpati festival will have to be taken on a case-to-case basis from the Maharashtra Disaster Management Authority.