Lucknow Mahotsav: HC dismisses PIL

The Allahabad High Court today dismissed a PIL seeking direction to portray the emblem of Veer Var Laxman within and outside the main enclosure and other prominent places of the Lucknow Mahotsav to be organised from November 25.
On the PIL filed by Hindu Front For Justice, which is a group of 10 local lawyers, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Krishana Murari of the Lucknow bench of the court observed that it cannot and should not enter into a matter related to culture and heritage.
On behalf of the state government, Additional Advocate General Bulbul Godiyal raised preliminary objection that petitioner's Front had no role to file such PIL as it was not a registered association.

It was alleged by petitioner's counsel H S Jain that the government was violating the duty cast upon it by Article 51A(f) of the Constitution as Hindu tradition, culture and religious places were being totally overlooked and discarded intentionally in the Mahotsav, whereas it has the roots with Lucknow from Treta Yuga.
The petitioners also sought a direction to adequately exhibit Hindu culture and buildings of historical importance while showing the cultural heritage of city during Lucknow Mahotsav, including in the magazine or souvenir to be published for the same.
On November 10, the court had posted the matter for hearing on November 17 before bench concerned and had directed the state counsel to seek instructions in this matter from the state government to file its response.