HC bars construction of temple along NH

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, April 17

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has barred any further construction of a temple being built within a green belt along the Rohtak-Panipat National Highway on the outskirts of Rohtak town.

The person involved in constructing the structure submitted before the High Court through his counsel that he had challenged the demolition order by filing an appeal with the Urban Local Bodies Department.

Judge Nirmaljit Kaur directed the said department to decide the appeal “as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months”. The matter has been adjourned to July 29.

A petition against the construction had been filed by Neelam, a local resident. She had stated that the construction was “unauthorised, unpermitted and illegal” and amounted to contempt of a Supreme Court order, which stated that “no unauthorised construction shall be carried out or permitted in the name of temple, church, mosque or gurdwara, etc., in public streets, parks or other public places”.

The apex court’s order further directed “all district collectors and magistrates/deputy commissioners in charge of the districts to ensure that there is total compliance of the order”.

The petitioner also claimed that the religious structure in question was being built in violation of the Punjab Scheduled Road and Regulation Act, 1963.