Illegal construction on temple property: Patiala MC swings into action after DC’s directions
Following the deputy commissioner’s (DC) directions, the municipal corporation has initiated legal action against illegal showrooms that have mushroomed over the one-acre land belonging to Shivala Gujrati temple near Dhillion colony.
Following the deputy commissioner’s (DC) directions, the municipal corporation has initiated legal action against illegal showrooms that have mushroomed over the one-acre land belonging to Shivala Gujrati temple near Dhillion colony.
“One demolition notice has already been served to the authorities of the temple. The structure will be razed down if our directions are not complied with,” said MC commissioner PS Gill.
He said that the construction had taken place on the temple property without MC’s approval. In past too, authorities were served a notice but there was no response.
“Since DC’s inquiry report sent to us clarified that the structure erected there was illegal, I have placed the matter before MC’s law officer for his immediate opinion on provisions under which, the structure can be demolished,” said Gill.
The inquiry that was done by sub-divisional magistrate Pooja Syal on the directions of DC Ramvir Singh reveals that the temple property belonged to the Dharam Arth Board and as per the Punjab and Haryana high court order last year, all sale or lease deed executed by temple authorities in transgression of their powers are declared null and avoid.
In the current dispute, the lease deed was executed in favour of private developers who ended up using it for commercial purpose, which is not allowed under the laws governing dharam arth property.
The report also said that people responsible for illegal construction were summoned by the SDM for the inquiry but no one appeared before her.
“When she conducted an inspection on September 21, construction was still underway,” said the report.
This, however, is not a lone case of donated religious land being encroached in the city.
There are approximately 100 religious places in Patiala that had the privilege to have the land bank which was gifted to these institutions by erstwhile city rulers.
The aim was to strengthen the religious institutions as they could earn some income by giving land on lease for agriculture purpose and use that money for the welfare purpose.
But over the years, several of the temple or religious dera’s properties were encroached.
The DC said that eviction of the already encroached property can’t be made since the matter is sub judice in the Supreme Court.
However, local right-wing leaders want authorities to put a trespass board in all dharam arth properties with clear instructions that any activity on those areas would be illegal.