The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed an order of the Allahabad High Court that had halted ongoing Ramleela performances at a school ground in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad district, Live Law reported.

A Ramleela is the dramatic enactment of the life of Hindu deity Ram in dialogue, dance and song.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh allowed the performances to continue at the Zila Parishad Vidyalaya in Firozabad’s Tundla. The court noted that the performances had already begun on September 14, and had been held at the same site for the past 100 years.

However, the court clarified that the celebrations must not inconvenience students and “that children shall continue to play or pursue sports activities” at the site, Bar and Bench reported.

The court further requested the High Court to instruct the district administration to identify an alternative venue for future events so that the school ground can be exclusively used by students.

All stakeholders, including the event organisers, must be heard before a final decision is taken, the Supreme Court added, according to Live Law.

The order came on a Special Leave Petition filed by the event organiser, Shree Nagar Ramlila Mahotsav, which claimed it had not been made a party before the High Court.

On Monday, the Allahabad High Court had passed its order in response to a public interest litigation filed by Pradeep Singh Rana, who argued that the performances over 18 days would deprive school students of access to the playground, Live Law reported.

In response, the organisers told the court that similar celebrations had been held at the location for over 100 years and that it did not interfere with educational activities, as the festivities were scheduled between 7 pm and 10 pm.

However, the High Court held that the claim was contrary to the facts.

“The attempt appears to be to convert the land of the school into a permanent place for holding activities of the nature, which are sought to be objected, which action cannot be permitted,” the court held and stayed the Ramleela performances at the school premises.

During the hearing on Thursday, the Supreme Court questioned the petitioner’s delay in approaching the High Court, despite admitting that Ramleela performances had been held at the site for 100 years, Live Law reported.

The petitioner claimed he acted only after a concrete wall began to be constructed there.

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