HC: Use of DJs by kanwarias violates fundamental right

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad high court came down heavily on kanwarias carrying DJ systems during their yatra in the holy month of Shravan. The court directed the state government to take action against such kanwarias. The court observed that right to live with dignity in peace and tranquility was a fundamental right of every citizen of India and the use of loudspeakers and DJ systems by kanwarias violated it.

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad high court came down heavily on kanwarias (devotees of Lord Shiva) carrying DJ systems during their yatra in the holy month of Shravan and directed the state government to take action against the devotees.

The court observed that the right to live with dignity in peace and tranquility was the fundamental right of every citizen of India and the use of loudspeakers and DJ systems by kanwarias violated the same.

The order was passed by a division bench of justice Dilip Gupta and justice VK Mishra on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vikki Deval.

The petitioner said the administration should not stop kanwarias from playing music on DJ systems as listening to holy music was part of their yatra.

The court dismissed the PIL by holding that the use of DJ systems was not a part of the pilgrimage in which the devotees walk from Allahabad to Varanasi to offer Ganga jal (Ganga water) at temples of Lord Shiva.

The court held that on the contrary, the public has the right to live in peace which cannot be taken away.