Chief Justice of India Justice H L Dattu appears firm on going ahead with the conference of high court chief justices beginning in New Delhi on Good Friday, notwithstanding opposition from the Christian community.
Chief Justice of India Justice H L Dattu appears firm on going ahead with the conference of high court chief justices beginning in New Delhi on Good Friday, notwithstanding opposition from the Christian community.
"Good Friday", the day of crucification of Jesus Christ and a pious day for Christians universally, is a declared holiday in the country, and the community has urged for a rethink on the issue of having a conference on such a day. The CJI is slated to inaugurate the three-day conference on April 3.
The issue was raised by advocate Lily Thomas, who orally mentioned it before a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Dattu and Justie A K Mishra.
"Good Friday" is a holy day of high spiritual significance and the state has recognised it as a national holiday. So the Chief Justices' conference should not be held on this day, she said.
The Chief Justice responded, "In 2007, we had the judges' conference on the day of 'Good Friday' and in 2009 it was held on the Independence Day, which is a national holiday. In 2004, it was held on Valmiki Day.
"The purpose of holding this conference is that the work in high courts across the country is not affected as 24 Chief Justices would be attending this conference. Keeping this in mind, the judges took this decision," the bench said.
There have never been any objections for holding the conference on holidays, the bench observed. The advocate submitted that "Good Friday" is not a religious but a spiritual holiday because it is a "deliverance day" for the mankind.
The CJI asked advocate Thomas that if she still needed to press her grievances, then she was at liberty to file a proper petition.
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