SC restrain courts to pass order on construction of religious places

The Supreme Court restrained all courts across the country from passing any order inconsistent with the apex court order dated September 29, 2009 banning all constructions of religious places like temples, mosques, churches and Gurudwara etc.


A bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari issued the directions when Solicitor General of India Gopal Subramanium submitted before the court that Supreme Court orders may be frustrated if courts in the country continue to entertain petition by encroachers who exploit in the name of religion for grabbing land if appropriate directions are not issued by this court.


Several states also made similar complaints to the Supreme Court that they are not in a position to enforce the directions of this court because of contradictory orders such as injunction orders being issued by various courts in the country.


States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat and union territory of Chandigarh have filed their affidavits as per directions of the Supreme Court.


The apex court had imposed a blanket ban on the construction of all new religious places on public land across the country vide order dated September 29, 2009.


The ban was imposed on the petitions filed by central government against Gujarat High Court order staying the demolition of religious structures on public land.