Remove religious structures from public places, HC directs UP

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure that immediate steps are taken to remove unauthorised religious structures from public places in the state.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Sunil Ambwani and Bharat Bhushan also directed the government to take effective steps to "stop further constructions on public places".
Directing the state's Principal Secretary (Home) to file an affidavit containing the information within three weeks, the court fixed October 25 as the next date of hearing.
"The Supreme Court has already passed order not to raise construction in the name of temple, church, mosque or gurudwara etc on public streets, public parks or other public places...

"Though it is not necessary to reiterate the said directions, the district administration/public authorities will take immediate steps to remove unauthorised constructions of religious purpose wherever they have been raised on public places and to stop further constructions on public places," the court said in its September 13 order.
Earlier, the court expressed dissatisfaction over an affidavit filed by the UP government giving details of such unauthorised places of worship constructed on public land as it contained "no information in respect of unauthorised constructions raised in public places after September 29, 2009 and the action taken in respect of such constructions".

The order was passed in course of hearing on a writ petition filed by one Abdul Kayyum, a resident of Badaun district.
He had moved the court in protest against loudspeakers in a temple of his village and alleged inaction of the local administration despite complaints of inconvenience caused by the noise.