Shops around temple face demolition

“The art of land grabbing in the name of god cannot be permitted,” said a city court, ordering demolition of unauthorised shops constructed around a 100-year-old Sati Mata Mandir at Jangpura-Bhogal in South Delhi.

“The art of land grabbing in the name of god cannot be permitted,” said a city court, ordering demolition of unauthorised shops constructed around a 100-year-old Sati Mata Mandir at Jangpura-Bhogal in South Delhi.

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One Krishan Gopal Goel approached the court, seeking relief against the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) move to demolish illegal shops around the temple. Goel owns a commercial establishment right next to the temple.

Dismissing his plea, Additional District Judge Kamini Lau said: “Zero tolerance is required to curb encroachment under the garb of places of worship.” Lau said any attempt of encroachers to convert a place of worship for personal gain is to be sternly dealt with.

The DDA counsel said the temple is located on a municipal street, and in the name of the temple, dozens of shops have encroached upon government land allocated for a footpath.

The court ordered DDA to protect 38 square yards of land on which temple is located, but demolish all other unauthorised structures built around it.