Show equal importance and respect to sacred days of all religions: SC judge to PM Modi

Irked over All India Chief Justices Conference being held on Good Friday, sitting Supreme Court judge Kurien Joseph has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also declined a dinner invitation, scheduled to be held on Saturday.

In his April 1 letter to the PM, he has thanked the prime minister for the invitation for dinner tonight at his residence.

"I regret my inability to attend the event as the Conference coincides with the Good Friday ceremonies. Good Friday is a day of great religious significance to us, marking the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

"Thus, it is customary for us to be part of the religious and other ceremonies with the parents, elders and other family members during the holy weekend. Hence I would be in Kerala during those days."

Further in the letter, Justice Joseph said he has taken the liberty to express a few concerns, which he felt required the prime minister's consideration.

"Irrespective of the religion, Diwali, Holi, Dussehra, Eid, Bakrid, Christmas, Easter etc. are great days of festival celebrations in the neighbourhood. Your good self would kindly appreciate that no important programmes are held during sacred and auspicious days of Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Eid, Bakrid etc., though we have holidays during that period as well," he said.

Justice Joseph then referred to historical instances and said that Jews, Zoroastrians, who came to India after being persecuted abroad, got "respect and bonhomie" from then Hindu rulers.

"Our religious and cultural festivals and hues, irrespective of caste and creed, have contributed to the vibrancy of our rich pluralistic culture and ethos. The whole world jealously looks at the beauty of the secular image, communal harmony and cultural integrity of our great Nation.

India must in these trying times, safeguard her credentials and be a model that other nations must follow. he said.

Justice Joseph, in his letter to PM, further said, "I know it is too late to reschedule the events. But being the guardian of Indian secularism, I request your Honour to kindly have in mind these concerns also while scheduling events and benevolently show equal importance and respect to the sacred days of all religions which are also declared as National holidays. I have shared these concerns with the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India as well."

Justice Dattu had replied to Justice Joseph saying the question the justice had to ask himself, as he cannot ask the judge, is "whether it is institutional interest or individual interest that one should preference to".PM Narendra Modi will address a joint session on the third and final day of the conference.

Supreme Court judge had earlier clashed with the Chief Justice of India over holding of a three-day long judges conference during the holy period.

In his letter to CJI HL Dattu, he said, "I may with deep anguish bring to your kind notice that such an important conference should not have been held when some of us, otherwise expected to be part of the event, or otherwise committed on account of the holy days when we have religious ceremonies and family get-together as well," he said.

Maintaining that he was not striking a communal note, Justice Joseph said such serious programmes were not held during Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Eid, etc.

However, Justice Dattu hit back saying the question the justice had to ask himself, as he cannot ask the judge, is "whether it is institutional interest or individual interest that one should preference to".

Justice Dattu, in a letter to Justice Joseph, said assuming that religious ceremonies and family get-togethers were important, then he could asked his family to join him in Delhi.

"Several other participants are coming from distant places, leaving behind families," the CJI said.