The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has issued a show-cause notice to the management of Shree Yogmaya Mandir in Mehrauli here for alleged unauthorised construction of a room at its premises.
According to MCD officials, the notice was issued on March 30 after an inspection of the temple complex by the assistant engineer (building) concerned. The civic agency asked the temple authorities to state the reason why the room, constructed in an “unauthorised” way, should not be demolished.
The temple, dedicated to goddess Yogmaya, the sister of Krishna, was built in 1820s but devotees believe that it came up on the site of an ancient shrine. It is also an integral part of the annual festival of “ Phool Walon Ki Sair ” which is held in the month of October.
The Shree Yogmaya Mandir Welfare and Management Society, which looks after the temple, maintained that there was no unauthorised construction in the complex and the room in question was attached to the shrine “since time immemorial.”
In its reply to the notice, the Society has said the allegation in the show-cause notice is “false and frivolous.”
It said the intended demolition of the room would lead to demolition of the temple. It further stated that the MCD should withdraw the notice, failing which the Society would resort to legal action.
According to the MCD, the issue of unauthorised construction and encroachment on public land in the Yogmaya Mandir Complex at Mehrauli is under consideration of the Delhi High Court in the matter of the PIL of Sunaina Devi vs. DDA and others, 2006.
MCD spokesperson Deep Mathur said: “The area was transferred from the DDA to the MCD by a notification in 2007 and the MCD has been taking action under the law against unauthorised construction and encroachment since then, particularly in compliance of the directions of the High Court. The MCD has also issued notices to certain property owners and occupiers asking them to come up with evidence or documentary proof of their existence prior to February 2007 deadline before the Master Plan 2021 came into being.”
