Cabinet divided over temple land exchange

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 25

With the Cabinet remaining divided over the issue of allowing exchange of land under Nautor rules to Sadhu Amarnath who has erected a temple on the land given to panchayat for construction of a community hall in Kandaghat area of Solan, the encroachment could not be regularized.

Despite three Cabinet ministers Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil, Health and Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur and Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri vociferously pleading the case of the high profile sadhu, the Cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister decided against allowing the exchange of land, which rules do not permit.

Citing rules and setting up a bad precedent for other such encroachers to seek relief, Transport Minister GS Bali opposed the proposal to give relief to Sadhu Amarnath. The sadhu who was some time back booked for possessing leopard skin has constructed a temple in Tundal panchayat in Kandaghat sub-division of Solan district.

Under pressure from the high profile followers of the sadhu, the Revenue Department had prepared the case for exchange of land citing that rules do not permit any such arrangement.

It was also conveyed that allowing such a relaxation could be easily challenged by anyone who was in a similar situation in court of law for which there will no defence.

Sources said as per the policy in the state for regularising encroachments by religious and charitable institutions, only those constructions made prior to 2009 and had not been challenged in any court of law would qualify for consideration. As such this temple does not fall within the purview of this policy. The government was acting on a request from a local who had made a request that his land may be taken in lieu of the land used for temple construction by the sadhu.

Once the illegality had been detected, proceeding for eviction had been initiated and a notice served on the sadhu by the Solan district administration. The proceedings have now been put on hold and it is being feared that the 60 bighas of land around the temple would also be encroached if the government allows exchange of land.