2002 riots: SC asks for repair estimates of shrines

The Supreme Court on Monday told the Gujarat government to submit to it a survey on the religious sites damaged and destroyed during the communal riots in the state in 2002 and how much it would cost to rebuild or repair them.

The Supreme Court on Monday told the Gujarat government to submit to it a survey on the religious sites damaged and destroyed during the communal riots in the state in 2002 and how much it would cost to rebuild or repair them.

A bench of justice KS Radhakrishnan and justice Dipak Misra gave the directions on an appeal filed by the state government challenging a Gujarat high court order directing it to pay compensation for damage to and destruction of the shrines.

HT Image

When the Gujarat government counsel said state funds could not be used for rebuilding and repairing religious sites, the bench said, “You compensate if a house is washed away in a flood or if it is damaged in an earthquake. Then why not in case of a religious place?”

The apex court posted the matter for further hearing on July 30.