Court orders shifting of all new temples on Govardhan Hill

A Mathura court has ordered all new temples constructed on the holy Govardhan Hill near here to be shifted.

Passing the order, Justice Raghuvendra Singh Rathore, who hears National Green Tribunal matters, said the old temples on the hill would not be touched, an advocate said Wednesday.

The court passed the order Tuesday while hearing a petition filed by Baba Anand Gopal Das and Satya Prakash Mangal.

Further clarifying the judgment, advocate Sarthak Chaturvedi said guest houses and commercial accommodations constructed around the new temples would be demolished and the deities respectfully shifted.

The advocate further said while old "samadhis" (graves) would be untouched, constructions around these would have to be demolished.

He added that illegal constructions on the Parikrama Marg around the Govardhan Hill would be demolished as well.

The court posted the matter to November 1 for further hearing.