New Delhi, Sept 25 (UNI) The Supreme Court today permitted the continuation of Ram Leela celebrations at a school ground in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, setting aside an interim stay imposed by the Allahabad High Court.
A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh heard a plea filed by the Shree Nagar Ram Leela Mahotsav Committee challenging the High Court’s order that had restrained the use of the school playground for festivities.
“The festivities are allowed to continue, subject to the condition that no inconvenience is caused to the students and no obstruction is caused in their sports activities,” the court observed.
The Ram Leela Committee, through its counsel, argued that the celebrations had been held on the ground for over 100 years with active participation from students and families, and that more than 2,000 people attend the event every year.
Questioning the motive of the writ petitioner before the High Court, Justice Surya Kant asked, “What happened suddenly that you go to court? Last 100 years, where were you? You are not a student, you are not the parent of a student, and you are not the owner of the property. What prevented you from approaching the court in advance, before the festivities started?”
The bench recorded that it was an admitted fact that Ram Leela festivities had been conducted at the site for a century, and noted that the petitioner approached the High Court only after celebrations commenced on September 14, 2025.
While allowing the celebrations to continue, the Supreme Court also requested the High Court to explore alternative sites for such events so that the school playground remains available for students during the academic year.
The court stayed paragraph 11 of the Allahabad High Court’s order that had restrained the committee from using the playground and directed that the festivities may go on, provided they do not disrupt academic or sports activities.
The PIL before the Allahabad High Court alleged misuse of the school ground for organising Ram Leela, claiming that cement tiles had been laid to convert the area into a permanent venue, and that the school’s main gate had been renamed ‘Sita Ram Gate’ with swings and other structures installed.
Acting on these submissions, the High Court had passed an ex parte interim order restraining the committee from holding the celebrations.
