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A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority to permit performing of Chhath Puja at the banks of the Yamuna river.

Recently, the DDMA had issued a detailed order specifying guidelines for the festival wherein it had categorically mentioned that no celebrations would be allowed on the Yamuna banks.

The district authorities have also designated sites in consultation with the Chhath puja committees.

Filed by Sanjeev Newar and Swati Goel Sharma, the petition prays that the Delhi government and police should not file police cases against devotees over its arbitrary "No Chhath at Yamuna" order. 

The devotees should not be treated as criminals, states the plea. It adds,

"Delhi police treated Diwali revellers as criminals for buying a polybag full of firecrackers. Same must not be repeated for festival of Chhath."

In this regard, the plea submits that the mere act of offering prayers in the river cannot be a ground for a police case or arrest and that the pronounced ban on Chhath celebrations is a way to torment the devotees. 

It is further submitted that in the name of  Right to life, freedom of religion cannot be taken away since Yamuna river has been revered to as a divine river in Hindu culture and customs.

The plea avers that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2015 had made a public promise to clean and revive river Yamuna within five years and subsequently in 2020 he made a poll promise before elections to clean the river Yamuna to such an extent that residents of the national capital will be able to take a dip in it, but the condition of the holy river has worsened.

Filed through Advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, the petition prays that the state must not lodge any FIR and make no arrest against any devotees who goes to Yamuna for Chhath.

The plea further seeks that an FIR may also not be lodged against common public for usage or selling of firecrackers during the Chhath festival.

It is further prayed that the state authorities must immediately tackle the water crisis in Delhi due to risen ammonia levels in yamuna river.

A committee of eminent environmentalist may also be set up for the revival of the river, pray the petitioners.

Case Title: Sanjeev Newar & Anr Vs. State of Delhi NCT & Ors