Supreme Court Rejects Petition Against Demolition Of Temples In Mayur Vihar

The Supreme Court has rejected a petition challenging the notice issued by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to demolish the Kalibari, Amarnath, and Badrinath temples located in Mayur Vihar, Delhi.

A bench comprising Justice Bikramnath, Justice Sanjay Karol, and Justice Sandeep Mehta dismissed the petition but allowed the petitioner to approach the Delhi High Court.

Supreme Court’s Decision And Petitioner’s Response

The bench, after hearing the petition, instructed the petitioner’s lawyer, Vishnu Shankar Jain, to take the matter to the Delhi High Court.

Jain argued that the temple has been in place for 35 years and should not face demolition.

When the court asked why the petitioner had not filed a petition under Article 32, Jain explained that authorities suddenly issued the demolition notice and arrived at the temple with 500 security personnel to carry it out.

Temple’s History And Local Discontent

The temples in question, according to residents, have been in existence for 40 years.

The local community, including Kashmiri Pandits who fled Jammu and Kashmir years ago, built the Amarnath and Badrinath temples.

The temples have been actively involved in the annual Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja programs.

The sudden demolition notice has caused widespread outrage among the locals, who argue that the notice lacked official signatures, raising doubts about its legitimacy.

MLA Ravi Negi informed that Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta intervened in the matter and spoke to the Governor of Delhi.

Following discussions with DDA officials, Gupta instructed the DDA to halt the demolition process.

The temple committees, represented by lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, filed the petition in the Supreme Court seeking relief.

The DDA’s Horticulture Department declared the three temples illegal, stating that they built the temples within a designated green belt area.

The notice issued by the DDA on October 25, 2024, referred to a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary.

The committee recommended that the DDA remove encroachments and illegally constructed religious structures in the Sanjay Lake Green Area.

The petition filed in the Supreme Court has been dismissed, but the petitioner has been granted permission to approach the High Court.

As the legal battle continues, the fate of the temples now lies with the judicial process in the Delhi High Court.

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