New Delhi: Expressing dissatisfaction over the demolition drive being conducted in Puri, the Supreme Court Thursday asked the Odisha government to consult with Shankaracharya and other priests before continuing with the project.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, Vineet Saran And Ravindra Bhat observed that the State government should preserve these ancient mutts and temples.
“You cannot destroy everything. You should preserve these historical sites. These small temples and mutts are providing livelihood to number of people since centuries,” the bench observed.
The SC also asked the State government to file status report regarding the demolition and rehabilitation of people affected due to the demolition drive.
The court posted the matter for hearing again October 22.
It should be stated here that in the first week of September, seers of several mutts and monasteries in Puri had sent an open letter to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi seeking his intervention in the matter. It requested the CJI to prevent the razing of mutts and ancient structures.
Old structures around the Jagannath Temple are being razed since August 27 after a committee headed by a retired judge of Orissa High Court BP Das recommended the removal of such buildings early this year.
The seers stated in their letter to the CJI that ‘unjustified and uncalled for the destruction of heritage structures’ should be stopped.
“Last week, we heard the Advocate General of Odisha make a false claim before the bench headed by justice Arun Misra that the mahants of the mutts have given their assent for this dastardly act of destroying centuries-old mutts. We have certainly not given consent for destruction or demolition of our mutts. We are being forced by the district administration to consent to demolition now,” the letter said.
PNN