Don’t politicise Ravidas temple razing orders: SC

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 19

Taking exception to protests over its recent order to demolish an old Guru Ravidas Temple built on forest land in Delhi, the Supreme Court today directed Punjab, Haryana and Delhi governments to ensure that no law and order problems were created over the issue.

A Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra issued the orders after Attorney General KK Venugopal said the three governments should be  asked to ensure that no law and order situation was created “politically or otherwise”.

“Everything cannot be political. Our orders can’t be given a political colour by anybody on earth,” said a Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, posting the matter for further hearing after three weeks. After the demolition on August 10, protests have been held at various places in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi by political parties and Dalit community members.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had said they would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention. The SAD wanted the government to provide a piece of land to rebuild the temple. Certain AAP leaders, too, had sought Modi’s intervention to restore the historic temple to its pristine glory.

“What do you think? This is a Supreme Court order… You can’t organise protests like this… You can’t politicise our orders,” the Bench had said on April 13, while warning that it would initiate contempt proceedings against those involved. It had also sought the Attorney General’s assistance on the issue.

Venugopal told the Bench that though temple’s demolition was carried out by the Delhi Development Authority on the top court’s order, 18 organisations were holding protests against it and it was difficult to pinpoint a particular person behind these protests.

The Bench said if the issue remained, it would take up the matter for hearing. The court had on April 2 ordered that the premises build on forest land had to be vacated and possession given to the DDA. However, it was not done and on August 2, a false statement was made on behalf of office-bearers of Guru Ravidas Jayanti Samaroh Samiti that the premises had been vacated.

Everything cannot be political. Our orders can't be given a political colour by anybody on earth.— SC Bench