INVASION OF PUBLIC LAND IN THE GARB OF A PLACE FOR WORSHIP OUGHT TO BE DISCOURAGED

INVASION OF PUBLIC LAND IN THE GARB OF A PLACE FOR WORSHIP OUGHT TO BE DISCOURAGED

22nd DECEMBER

A Single Judge bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh dismissed a petition filed by a temple authority seeking a permanent ban against the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) from forcefully oust him from 4 temple properties built on public land. The court said that a trend could be observed of public land being "sought to be intruded upon under the shelter of a place of worship.

Backing the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Union of India v. State of Gujarat & Ors., (2011) 14 SCC 62, she said that the Supreme Court has taken knowledge of this threat and directed State Governments and Union Territories to examine the situation and expeditiously take necessary action. She explained in her judgment that "Such attempts by corrupt parties have to be discouraged, in as much as the residents, under the garb of a place of worship, turn the land into a completely unplanned intrusion by hundreds of people. The authorities have a responsibility to ensure that places of worship are not created like this."