Consider giving permission to Shiv Sena UBT for Dahi Handi in Kalyan, HC tells govt

Petitioner Sachin Dilip Basare of Sena (UBT) group through advocates Siddhi Bhosle and Jayesh Wani argued that the permission was denied to by the authorities on the ground of disturbance of law and order at the proposed venue, which is discriminatory in nature.

A division bench of Justice Sunil B Shukre and Justice Firdosh P Pooniwalla said the authority can impose a condition relating to the restriction upon maximum participation on the petitioner as well as the rival group for the same place “so that both groups can celebrate Dahi Handi festival in their own way.

“Similarly, police can also consider another option of asking both groups to celebrate Dahi Handi festival at different times with intervals of at least 2-3 hours in between,” the court said.

Basare submitted that while he was not against the other group celebrating Dahi Handi festival, he filed a writ plea asserting his right to celebrate it in the same manner.

The petitioner further submitted that if there is any issue about law and order situation, it is for the concerned police to deal with it and that it cannot say that just because one group is celebrating, the other group need not celebrate.
It was further submitted that in such matters, equal treatment has to be meted out to both the groups and for that purpose, it is necessary that stringent conditions are imposed upon both the groups so that festival celebration passes off peacefully.

The bench issued notices to respondents including Police, Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation seeking their response during next hearing on Wednesday, September 6.