Illegal religious constructions on Government lands must be demolished : Uttarakhand High Court

High Court imposed penalty of Rs 1 lakh due to the petition by Muslims to stop the action against mazars

(Credit : India Today)

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) – The Uttarakhand High Court, while hearing a plea filed against illegal religious structures demolition from Government land by State Government, said that the ‘illegal constructions should be demolished’. Religion should not be considered in this. Penalty of Rs 1 lakh was imposed on the petitioner stating that those who file such petitions want popularity. The petition was filed by Hamza Rao along with some others. He has said that the Government is demolishing the constructions of a particular religion. This action should be stopped and the demolished mazars (tombs of Muslim Fakirs) should be rebuilt.

The Court had earlier dismissed a petition filed by petitioners’ advocate Bilal Ahmed against the action on Chandan Peer Baba’s Mazar. The Government has so far demolished 330 mazars constructed illegally on Government land.

Editorial Viewpoints

• First do illegal constructions and then go to Court in an attempt to avoid action against it, such is the mentality of fanatics. People feel that the Court should now order strict measures on this also !
• Strict action should be taken against the delinquent Government officials who are responsible for encroachment on Government land !