Supreme Court today listed for hearing on Monday, 16th September, the case of demolition of Sant Ravidas Temple in Delhi’s Tughlaqabad.
Justices R. Banumathi and A.S. Bopanna admitted the joint petition filed by former Haryana Congress President Ashok Tanwar and former Member of Parliament Pradeep Jain, praying for reconstruction of the building, stating freedom of religion being a constitutional right.
Ashok Tanwar v DDA, filed by counsel Sachin Mittal, asks for rebuilding of the temple and reinstalling of the idol so that the people could offer their prayers as they previously did.
The temple was demolished by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on 10th August 2019 on the directions of the Supreme Court, following which a protest by Dalits against the demolition turned violent on 21st August.
Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri is also in receipt of a letter from Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi Govt praying to de-notify the forest land so that the reconstruction of temple may take place. Chief Minister Kejriwal, on the sidelines, clarified that the land belonged to DDA and thus only the Centre can choose to de-notify the land in accordance with public sentiments.
–India Legal Bureau