Orissa High Court rules puja pandals must not block public roads

The Orissa High Court has ruled that temporary religious structures, known as puja pandals, may be erected on public roads provided they do not completely obstruct movement or deny residents access to their homes.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Mruganka Sekhar Sahoo disposed of a public interest litigation filed by an 81-year-old resident of Bhubaneswar. The petitioner alleged that structures for Ganesh and Durga Puja, along with associated musical performances, blocked a public road for approximately 10 days, making his house inaccessible.

While the court declined to halt the temporary community structures, it directed the state government to ensure that adequate passage remains open for vehicles, ambulances, and fire engines. The bench emphasized that the government must also oversee compliance with prescribed noise limits and regulate the size of these temporary structures to prevent complete traffic disruption.