Sunday 12 June 2016

Raising religious structures on roads to be criminal contempt

The Allahabad High Court has directed the state government to ensure that no religious structures belonging to any religion, caste or creed be raised on any roads, lanes or highways including sidewalks which are the public property. The court has directed that the Secretary of State should instruct all collectors, senior superintendent of police, superintendent of police and all officers to ensure that no such structures are raised.
The court has ordered that any structure that was raised after 1.1.2011 should be demolished immediately and any structure raised prior to that date, it's management should be called to ensure its removal within six months.
The court observed that the public has a right to way and any structure that obstructs the free flow of traffic should be removed. The roads, paths, lanes, highways and sidewalks belong to the state and are public property and cannot be occupied by private individuals of any religion, caste or creed for raising religious structures that would obstruct traffic. The court observed that any violation of this order shall be deemed as a willful attempt at lowering the authority of the court and will be dealt as a criminal contempt of court.