Sanatan Prabhat > Post Type > News > National News > It is secular to pay an honorarium to artists who perform in programmes near or adjacent to religious places !

It is secular to pay an honorarium to artists who perform in programmes near or adjacent to religious places !

Clarification by Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court

Lucknow (UP) – Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court has dismissed a PIL against the UP Government. The PIL was filed against the UP Government’s decision to pay an honorarium to the artists who perform in religious programmes organised in the temples for Ramnavami. The Court stated that the Government’s decision does not fall under the ‘expenditure to propagate a religion or a sect’ category. This is just a simple secular activity of the Government.

In an order issued on 10th March, the UP Government announced Rs 1 lakh to each District of the State for organising religious programmes on Ramnavami. Moti Lal Yadav filed a PIL against this decision. (Please note note that it is not  Muslims or Christians; but some Hindus only oppose actions in favour of Hindus – Editor).

No Constitutional provisions have been violated ! – High Court

The Bench of Justice D.K. Upadhyay and Justice O.P. Shukla stated, ‘If the State spends some money out of the taxes/revenue collected by it from the citizens and appropriates some amount for providing some conveniences or facilities to any religious denomination, it will not be violative of Article 27 of the Constitution of India. We must always bear in mind that there is a clear distinction between secular and religious activities. In this case, we find that the petitioner has completely misread the provisions of the Government Order/Letter dated 10.03.2023. The Government provided honorariums to the artists who displayed their art in the religious programmes organised for Ramnavami. It was not meant to propagate religion.

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