The revered Magh Mela in Prayagraj became a battleground for faith and authority when police reportedly manhandled Jyotishpeeth’s Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his pupils on January 18, Mauni Amavasya. A PIL hitting the Supreme Court desks Friday demands systemic reforms to avert such sacrilege.
Crafted by attorney Ujjwal Gaur, the petition hammers home breaches of equality (Art. 14), personal freedoms (Art. 21), and religious practice rights (Art. 25). Viral clips reveal the ugliness: the holy palanquin stalled, shoves exchanged with followers, and degrading tugs at sacred topknots of Brahmin learners, all under the guise of mob control.
The filing zeroes in on the anarchy bred by SOP-less engagements between cops and clergy. This regulatory black hole invites abuses, tarnishing the image of law keepers and inflaming devotee passions nationwide.
Among the prayers: institute a foolproof SOP for saints at religious fests, covering palanquin protocols, immersion access, and foolproof security. Establish a high-speed redress forum for dignitaries’ plaints against official misconduct, and issue nationwide edicts reining in arbitrary force.
Flashback to the trigger: En route to Sangam bath, barriers checked the procession, igniting disciple fury and a brawl. The Shankaracharya responded with an 11-day vigil and fast, shunning the dip before quitting the venue on January 28 for Varanasi. He didn’t mince words, branding the ruling setup enablers of ‘bogus Hinduism’.
As the top court ponders, the incident spotlights faultlines in managing India’s pilgrimage powerhouses. A decisive SOP could bridge them, honoring tradition while upholding order, and restoring faith in governance amid spiritual pursuits.