High Court allows conditional Muharram procession in Mumbai

The Bombay High Court on Friday granted permission to hold the Taziya procession on Muharram in Mumbai provided not more than five people take part in it and stringent COVID-19 precautions are followed. A maximum of five people, along with one videographer, will be allowed on the truck and only five will be permitted to walk with the Taziya for the last 100 metres on the selected route, the court said. Habib Nasir, the organisation’s general secretary, has given the following undertakings to the court: “There will be only one Taziya, which will be carried from Zainabia to Byculla Mazgaon, Shia cemetery. However, after taking the Taziya down near the graveyard, it will be carried on foot, for a distance of not more than 100 metres.” The court said, “The State government shall, if not already imposed, impose a restriction over gathering of people at the appropriate places, by issuing appropriate orders, including the point where the Taziya is to start its journey, up to and including the graveyard, where its aforesaid journey will end, by passing appropriate orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.” The court said, “The State shall also provide an escort and also a pilot car for the truck carrying the Taziya and take appropriate measures to keep the traffic away and the road clear along the route.”