No Kanwar Yatra this Shravan, HC orders virtual darshan of Baba Baidyanath

Ranchi: A division bench of Jharkhand High Court Friday ordered ´virtual darshan´ of Baba Baidyanath (Lord Shiva) in Deoghar this Holy Shravan month.
Giving its verdict on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, the HC bench, comprising Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad said the order was in conformity with the need of the hour in the wake of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The bench ordered the state government to make adequate arrangements to provide virtual darshan facility to all devotees. The virtual darshan will be allowed on the lines of a similar arrangement made at Vaishno Devi.
The BJP MP had demanded opening of the Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar during Shravan by filing the PIL. He had also demanded permission for the annual Shravani Mela.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha welcomed the HC order. Party MLA Mathura Mahato said the court had only reaffirmed the government decision. He said the order would help maintain social distancing and prevent Corona spread.
Meanwhile, state BJP leaders criticized the government for its decision. The court order came as a setback to them. State BJP vice president Aditya Sahu said, ¨ We welcome the court order but the government had already announced a similar order. It is clear that the government had already made its intentions clear.¨
Every year, lakhs of devotees from far and wide visit Deoghar to offer Jal (holy water) on Baba Baidyanath during the Shravan month, holy month of Hindu calendar. After the court decision, now the devotees will have to be content with virtual darshan only.