State

HC to continue hearing in PIL on illegal religious structures

Hearing on the public interest litigation against construction of religious structures by encroaching on public space, the Uttarakhand high court will continue the hearing on Tuesday. In the past, the high court had ordered the government to remove all illegally constructed temples, mosques, churches and Gurudwaras from public space by March 23, this year. The state government had in the past sought one year’s time to remove such illegally constructed religious structures. However, the high court cited the Supreme Court order dated September 29, 2009 and ordered that the illegally constructed religious sites should be removed by March 23. Despite this, the orders of the court have not been implemented fully by the government. Considering this, the court decided to continue hearing on the PIL on Tuesday too.

In the past, the high court had expressed displeasure stating that  in its order dated September 29, 2009, the Supreme Court had issued an order directing all the states to remove all temples, mosques, churches and Gurudwaras built by encroaching on public space and government lands. However, the Uttarakhand government had failed to act upon the orders issued by the apex court.

It is pertinent to mention here that the high court took cognisance of the PIL in the matter of removal of illegal religious structures on the public lands. It has been stated in the PIL that despite the orders of the Supreme Court, the religious structures constructed illegally by encroaching on public land have not yet been removed by the state government.

Tuesday, 08 September 2020 | PNS | Nainital

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