Maharashtra’s COVID-19 task force discusses plans to reopen places of worship: Report

The Maharashtra government is planning to allow reopening of religious places for the first time since they were ordered to close in March, even as COVID-19 cases in the state continue to surge.

This planning comes amid growing demands from with the ruling alliance and opposition parties.

According to a report by Mumbai Mirror, the administration in its meeting earlier this week with the state’s COVID-19 task force, discussed how places of worship could reopen.

The plan reportedly involves temples, mosques, churches and other places of worship open 24 hours and allowing them to offer virtual and in-person darshan. Booking process for in-person darshan could be taken online in some cases.

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The management would be responsible for maintaining social distancing norms and other guidelines issued by the state government.

The report suggests that no decision has been made yet and the plan could be submitted for approval this week.

The news report cites senior officials as saying that it would be “more practical to keep religious places open 24 hours a day so that there will be smaller crowds. Popular temples and other places of worship that draw large numbers of people will have to set up waiting halls that can fit up to 500 people.”

While some states have permitted religious places to reopen with certain safety measures, Maharashtra has refrained from doing so as the state's caseload remains high.

On September 10, responding to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a non-governmental organization demanding reopening of temples, the state government had told the Bombay High Court that it was not practical at this point.

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