Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Sunday rejected a public interest litigation filed by four law students challenging the Maharashtra government’s decision to declare a public holiday on January 22 for the Ram Mandir Pran pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. The court labelled the petition as ‘politically motivated’ and a ‘publicity interest litigation.’ A bench of justice GS Kulkarni and justice Neela Gokhale dismissed the petition, citing the consistent stance of courts that such declarations fall under public policy, deeming it beyond judicial interference. The court emphasised that decisions on public holidays are within the executive domain, stating, “The consistent view of courts is that such a decision falls in the realm of executive decision.” The court, while cautioning against misusing…
