The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition to declare Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti as a national holiday.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the petition filed by All India Shiromani Singh Sabha in 2021 seeking a public holiday across India on the birthday of the tenth Sikh guru.
While dismissing the petition, Justice Sandeep Mehta orally remarked that there are umpteen religious holidays in India and we don't need more.
"My uncle, a leading lawyer in Rajasthan used to say, India is a holy country of holidays. Let us not add to that, please," Justice Mehta remarked.
The petition also sought directions to the Central and State governments to issue specific guidelines for the declaration of public or gazetted holidays.
Appearing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh today pointed out that there is no existing policy for the same and argued that the government must respond formulate one.
"We are saying there is no policy. Union has to respond. Notices have already been issued [on the petition]. If they come up with a policy," Singh contended.
The Bench, however, dismissed the petition. It also said that it would pass a detailed judgment in the matter.
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