It refers to CIC-verdict dated 17.02.2017 in petition-number CIC/SH/C/2015/000049 (Subhash Chandra Agrawal vs Union Culture Ministry) wherein CIC observed that “the issues concerning Delhi’s oldest Ramlila, which is part of the rich heritage and culture of the country, are of larger public interest. It is therefore, disturbing to see such a prestigious event mired in litigation, complaints of theft and misappropriation of costly items and allegations of encroachment on the storage site of such items. It is for the competent courts of law to pronounce upon the issues concerning management of the Ramlila before them. However given the larger public interest involved in this matter, we would urge the concerned public authorities to take such steps, as are within their powers, to assist the process of maintaining the glory of this prestigious event and look expeditiously into the complaints concerning the shortcomings in the management of this event brought to their notice by the public.”
Detailed CIC-verdict highlights irregularities, mismanagement which has resulted in loss of glory of the great historic annual event hurting also religious sentiments of Hindus. Government should honour Apex Court verdict dated 03.02.2015 in WP(C) No. 252 of 2004 in the matter ‘Subhas Datta versus Union of India & others’ held that ‘Prevention of rich heritage and culture of the country is a Constitutional mandate’ by taking over this highly mismanaged Ramlila on lines of Mysore Dussehra. CIC-verdict has been instrumental in Shri Ramlila Committee (Registered) admitting that prime two-side corner plot in Daryaganj (New Delhi) has been provided by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to the society solely for the purposes of using it as godown to keep goods, chariots and other items, which are quite bulky in size and ever since then the said site. General Secretary of Shri Ramlila Committee has also stated that they are not in position to reveal any information regarding whereabouts of costly silver items alleging misappropriation of some property against whom police complaint was lodged by the society which is under investigation. Affidavit filed by Shri Ramlila Committee admits that Shri Ram Temple at Ramchandra Dehlvi Marg (Delhi) is also not being used for Ramlila activities because of litigation.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL