The Allahabad High Court has directed to maintain the status quo of the temple located in Pratap Vihar Park in Vijay Nagar, Ghaziabad and the Court issued notice to the petitioner Varun Bir Singh, who had filed a PIL and got the order to remove the temple by declaring it illegal, and has sought a reply within two weeks.
The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Kshitij Shailendra passed this order while hearing a PIL filed by Varun Vir Singh.
The applicant, which claims itself to be Residents Welfare Association, has filed an application for recall of order dated 16.10.2023, by which direction was issued to the District Administration to ensure that illegal construction of temple is not carried on.
The undertaking of the Municipal Commissioner that illegal construction would be removed, was also recorded. It is urged that the temple has been in existence for a long time. The roof of the temple was being replaced with the consent of residents of the area, who are all members of the applicant-Association.
The petitioner in the petition has a criminal history. It is submitted that the same was not disclosed in the PIL. and the petitioner succeeded in obtaining the order behind the back of the applicant.
The Court issued notice to the petitioner to file a reply within two weeks.
“In the meantime, status quo as on date shall be maintained by the parties in respect of the temple in question.
When the matter is listed next, the name of Ramashrday Tripathi shall be shown as counsel for the applicant seeking impleadment”, the Court ordered.
The Court has fixed the next hearing of the petition on 08.02.2024.