HC seeks Centre, Delhi govt reply over demolition of temple

The Delhi High Court today sought the responses of the Centre and the state government on a plea seeking action against government officials who allegedly demolished a south Delhi temple.
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to the Centre, Delhi Police, South Delhi Municial Corporation and a private person and asked the authorities to file a status report on the issue and posted the matter for hearing on September 19.
The plea, filed by Nitin Sharma, a priest of Shiv Durga Shanidev Mandir at Defence Colony, sought a direction to the authorities to take steps to protect the property of the temple and initiate probe over the "illegal" demolition of the "ancient temple".

The petition, filed through advocate Abhishek Kumar Choudhary, also sought permission to perform all religious rituals without interruption, apart from seeking compensation and restoration of the temple structure that was demolished.
According to the petition, on August 27, policemen from Defence colony police station reached the temple and told Sharma that they have orders to remove and take away the temple's goods lying there.
The petition alleged that the next day, a group of men demolished the temple and the idols at the behest of one Bhupender Malik, husband of the area councillor.