SC ties courts’ hands on shrines

The Supreme Court on Monday restrained all courts from passing orders related to cases of unauthorised religious structures constructed on public land.

The Supreme Court on Monday restrained all courts from passing orders related to cases of unauthorised religious structures constructed on public land.

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A bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari issued the order after solicitor general Gopal Subramanium and advocates representing the states requested the court to do so. Subramanium, who appeared for the Centre, told the court that its earlier order of September 27 halting such constructions could get frustrated if any court entertained a plea related to the matter.

"Looking at the gravity of the matter we direct that no order that is inconsistent with our order would be passed by any court in the country," the bench said in response to the plea.

The September 27 order came on a petition by Union of India that challenged a Gujarat High Court order that had in 2006 directed municipal body to take action against such illegal structures.

In its order SC put the onus on the chief secretaries’ of all the states and Union Territories to ensure that no further construction took place. With regard to existing structures the court said the States would deal on individual basis after hearing the concerned parties.

As per the order all states were to file their affidavits before the SC. However, no other state except Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya filed their response to the court notice.