Bombay HC allows dining halls in Jain temples to open for festival

October 21, 2020 21:52

The Bombay high court on Wednesday permitted dining halls attached to Jain temples to open for five hours each day during the annual nine-day fast for Ayambil Oli Tap, saying it does not see any problem if a limited number of persons are allowed to eat there without congregating.

While granting permission, a division bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and V G Bisht said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the lockdown imposed amid the Covid-19 pandemic was over.

"But the virus (coronavirus) continues. Now we have to leave it to the public. How long can we continue this lockdown?" the court said.

The court permitted the dining halls, which are spread over 1,000 sq ft and more, to remain open for six hours (10 am to 4 pm) for serving food (10 am to 3 pm) and one hour for cleaning thereafter. A total of 40 persons will be allowed to eat inside these halls every hour and in five hours, not more than 200 people can be fed each day, the court said.

"We, however, clarify that the Jain temples would not be open and nobody would be given access to the same. Only the dining hall shall remain open," the court said.

The bench was hearing an application filed by Shree Atma Kamal Labdhi Suriswarji Jain Gyan Mandire Trust seeking permission to open dining halls attached to Jain temples in the city during the nine-day fast, which is scheduled to begin on October 23.

The trust moved the high court after the Maharashtra government permitted hotels, food courts, restaurants and bars to operate with 50 per cent capacity.

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