How the State and its lawyers played the Supreme Court and fired from the shoulders of the judiciary, a thread.

(1/n) https://twitter.com/barandbench/status/1273520303939784705

See the MHA Order on the Yatra (h/t: @parasnsingh95) States clearly: ratha construction, no religious congregation. Lockdown guidelines to be followed. And the decision on the Yatra to be taken at the appropriate time, keeping in mind the circumstances.

Very sensible.

(2/n)

In light of this Order, the Government of Odisha had to decide if the Yatra would go ahead or not. They did not.

Instead, a PIL was filed. Asking for a ban on the Yatra. It wasn't challenging the State's authorization, because no authorization was on record.

(3/n)

Basically, this PIL was asking the Supreme Court to do what the Odisha government was *required* to do, and hadn't done.

And the Court fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Asked Odisha's counsel what to do. Counsel suggested an injunction. Court went ahead and did it.

(4/n)

Did the Court even bother to ask questions about this whole process, or what the State action was that was being challenged in a PIL? Basic stuff.

It did not.

And now the headlines: Supreme Court bans Jagannath Yatra.

(5/n)

And this from a Court that told us two months ago that the Executive with the "3Ms" is the best placed body to handle Covid. What happened to all that self-restraint today?

(6/n)

Well played to the State's eminent lawyers for this, I guess.

As for the Court, I literally have no idea what it even thinks it's doing anymore, so no point in commenting.

(7/7)