Supreme Court to hear plea against Allahabad HC's stay on ongoing Ram Lila festivities

An SLP has been filed before the Supreme Court against the interim order of the Allahabad High Court dated September 22, 2025 passed in PIL whereby the High Court has stayed the ongoing Ram Lila festivities without hearing the organizers of the said Ram Lila.

The petition filed by Shree Nagar Ram Lila Mahotsav was mentioned today before a Justice Surya Kant, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N Kotiswar Singh has allowed urgent listing of the case tomorrow.

Filed through AOR Ajit Sharma, the petition states that Ram Lila has been organized on such grounds for over past 100 years during this time of the year and does not obstruct school activities.

The Allahabad High Court's bench of CJ Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra had passed the said orders noting that the land in question was recorded in the name of Zila Parishadiya Vidhyalaya, Tundla. "The attempt appears to be to convert the land of the school into a permanent place for holding activities of the nature, which are sought to be objected, which action cannot be permitted", the High Court had further noted.

Challenging the high Court's order, the SLP states that it erroneously recorded that Ram Lila “is likely to start today” when in fact the festivities had already started on September 14, 2025 and are to continue until October 05, 2025. 

It has been further contended that Ram Lila play is organized on school grounds from 7pm till 10pm, i.e. much after school hours an in fact, school children along with their families visit and actively participate in Ram Lila celebrations each year. 

"School ground is available for school children to use during school hours each day. No Ram Lila work is done during daytime on the grounds. Ram Lila activities do not obstruct passage to school. “Sita gate” referred to in para 2 of the impugned order was constructed in 2016 by municipal corporation and not by Petitioner herein for the purpose of present Ram Lila festivities. School is not closed and is much operational during school hours as per its calendar", Supreme Court has further been told.

The organizers have further stated that Ram Lila has been organized on school grounds by local community for the past over 100 years and this year, more than 2,000 local residents have viewed and participated in the Ram Lila festivities.

Pertinently, the petitioner's argue, that no objection has been raised by the School or any of the parents whose children study in the said school and the petitioner before the High Court in the PIL is a busybody who has been suspended by the U.P. Police for falsifying his marksheets. "In any case, the Petitioner herein has nothing against the PIL Petitioner. The local community looks forward each year to the organization of the Ram Lila. The Petitioner is also a committee of residents who organize Ram Lila using volunteers from the local community", the SLP states seeking the Court's permission to continue with the ongoing Ram Lila celebrations until 2nd October 2025.

Before the High Court, the PIL petitioner, one Pradeep Kumar Rana had stated that on the entire playground cement inter locking titles had been fixed for the purpose of converting the same into a permanent place for holding such event depriving the children of a play ground. Also, the main gate of the school, itself, had been converted into a 'Sita Ram Gate' and various swings etc. had been put at the main gate of the school, the PIL stated.

Further allegations had been made that the teaching activities for a period of over eighteen days during which the 'Ram Lila' would be performed, would be badly affected inasmuch as huge stage etc. have been put up along with furniture for the purpose in the school premises.

"From the instructions produce, it is not known as to who is organizing the 'Ram Lila', and who has granted permission for the holding of the 'Ram Lila' within the school premises, though admittedly the land in question is recorded in the name of Zila Parishadiya Vidhyalaya, Tundla. Further, despite setting up of such huge stage etc. in the play ground, the claim made that the teaching activities are not getting affected, is apparently on its face contrary to the fact situation", the High Court had noted while passing the impugned stay order.

Case Title: Shree Nagar Ram Lila Mahotsav vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Ors.