Mumbai:
The Bombay High Court on Saturday directed the Maharashtra government to demolish all illegal religious structures constructed after September 29, 2009.
A division bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka was hearing a public interest litigation filed NGO, Society for Fast Justice against illegal religious shrines in the state.
As per the government resolution of November 18, 2015 all illegal religious structures constructed after September 29, 2009 were required to be demolished within nine months from the said date.
The court observed no religion encourages illegal shrines for any religious leader to oppose the demolition. The court asked the police commissioners of all cities to provide adequate protection to the civic staff during the demolition. While directing the State to take action against those who interfere, the bench said, “No political interference would be tolerated in such task undertaken by the government.”
If any political leader tried to interfere in the demolition, the government should set the law in motion against such persons, the HC said. The court also told the government to direct the committees appointed to identify illegal shrines to inspect their respective areas before March 31, 2017.
The court observed no religion allows worship at any shrine which is illegally built and said the Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which pertains to practise and propagation of religion, does not confer the right to offer worship at any place which has been built illegally. While granting a deadline of December 31, 2016 the court has asked for a compliance report to be filed on November 30.
In February 2016, HC had taken on record that there are 742 illegal religious structures in the city of which 482 came up after September 29, 2009. Of these only four have been demolished.
