Get Rid of Illegal Shrines, Orders the Supreme Court, India

Source: www.hindustantimes.com
Monday, October 11, 2010

NEW DELHI, INDIA : Taking exception to states’ tergiversation on the removal of illegal religious structures, the Supreme Court threatened to summon the respective chief secretaries if they failed to comply with directions to remove or relocate places of worship built on public land. A bench gave two weeks to the states to file their response, the third instance the SC is giving time to states to comply with its directions.

According to affidavits filed by various states, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of unauthorized places of worship at 77,450, followed by Rajasthan at 58,253, Madhya Pradesh at 51,624, and Uttar Pradesh at 45, 000. Delhi has the least at 52.

On September 27, 2009, the SC had ordered there should be no unauthorized religious structures on roads, pavements or other public places, as they were inconvenience to people. In its order, the apex court had put the responsibility on chief secretaries’ to ensure no further construction took place. The court said the states should deal with existing structures on individual basis after hearing the parties concerned. From the affidavits, it transpired none of the States have taken effective methods to abide by the Supreme Court order.