Every person has the right to do what he feels is good for his faith, Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar said in open court on Monday.
“This court is not about good or bad. It is about what is legal and what is illegal. You do what you feel is good for your faith and let others do what is good for their faith,” Chief Justice Khehar said, addressing a PIL petitioner.
Anand Prakash Sharma's plea sought an end to the practice of burning effigy of demon king Ravana in Ramayana, on the eve of the Dussehra festival.
“Have you heard of Article 25 [freedom of religion] of the Constitution?” the Chief Justice asked Mr. Sharma.
The petition contended that such a practice does not find any mention in either “Valmiki Ramayana or Tulsi’s Ramayana”. Besides, the practice is both harmful to the environment and public health. He said the burning of Ravana’s effigy “hurts some sects of people”.
The Bench dismissed the case.
