Vinayaka Chaturthi festival: Plea filed seeking to follow 2017 orders

Chennai: A fortnight before the celebration of Vinayaka Chaturthi, a petition has been filed in Madras high court challenging the new guidelines issued on August 9 by the state in connection with the festival.

The petitioner, Vasanthakumar, claiming himself as the national president of All India Hindu Sathya Sena, sought for a direction to the state government and other authorities to follow the previous order dated August 23, 2017, of the high court in connection with the celebration of the festival in public places. He also sought for a direction to the state government to bring all regulations under one roof.

He said the authorities issued new guidelines /rules on August 9 last for temporary installation and worship of Sri Vinayaka idols on public places. 

The organizers are unable to follow the guideline since they were required to obtain no objection certificates from local bodies, highways, local police station, electricity board and pollution control board. These cannot be met with within short span of time and Vinayaka Chaturthi would be celebrated on September 13.

He approached the departments for getting NOCs. However, he faced difficulty in getting the permission as the government had not given any instruction to the departments to issue the NOC within a fixed time. Getting temporary power supply from the EB is very difficult and they are charging huge money.

He said it is very difficult to install the idols. He requested the commissioner of police, to follow the previous order to place the idols of Vinayagar at the places earmarked in the last year. The GO prescribing the new guidelines was passed only to suppress the right to celebrate the festival.  

What GO says: Following proposals from the Commissioner of Police, the government issued guidelines for installing and worship of Vinayakar idols and also for immersion. As per the government order dated August 9, guidelines have been issued with a view to maintain public peace, tranquility, public safety, regulation of traffic and control of pollution, after carefully considering the issue in detail. The guidelines regarding installation and worship of Vinayakar idols and also immersion were also issued in concurrence with the environment and forests department.

As per the guidelines any organiser intending to install Vinayakar idol should apply in prescribed format (as in Form I) to the assistant commissioner of police concerned \ RDO or sub collector at least a month in advance along with NOC obtained from land owner, local bodies, highways or department concerned, station house officer, fire and rescue services department besides a letter from Tangedco indicating source of power supply and proof of temporary supply of electricity.