Prayagraj’s sacred Magh Mela turned contentious when police allegedly roughed up Jyotishpeeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his entourage during Mauni Amavasya’s royal immersion. Friday saw a PIL lodged in the Supreme Court, spotlighting this flashpoint as a blatant breach of fundamental rights.

Filed by lawyer Ujjwal Gaur, the writ accuses authorities of trampling Articles 14 (equality), 21 (life and liberty), and 25 (religious freedom). Eyewitness accounts and video evidence depict the shocking scene: the seer’s palanquin stopped abruptly, followers manhandled, and young Brahmin scholars yanked by their shikhas amid chaotic crowd management efforts.

At the heart of the plea is the glaring void in guidelines for police interactions with high-ranking clergy. Without an SOP, officers resort to ad-hoc measures that often veer into disrespect, eroding public trust in law enforcement during holy congregations.

The court is urged to mandate a comprehensive framework ensuring dignified access for saints’ palanquins, dedicated security corridors, and seamless royal bath facilitation at events like the Magh Mela. Further, it pushes for an independent body to handle complaints against official high-handedness toward religious dignitaries, promising expedited justice.

Tensions boiled over when barricades impeded the Shankaracharya’s path to the Sangam. Disciples’ resistance led to a melee, prompting the leader to launch a 10-day dharna and hunger strike. Deeming it an insult, he boycotted the bath and headed back to Varanasi on January 28, lambasting the Yogi administration for promoting pseudo-Hindu elements.

As legal gears grind in the apex court, this case underscores the need for sensitivity in policing India’s mega-faith assemblies. A favorable ruling could set a precedent, safeguarding spiritual leaders and preserving the sanctity of age-old rituals for generations.