SC allows demolition of illegal Shiva temple in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld an order of the Delhi High Court allowing the demolition of an illegal Shiva temple near Taj Enclave at Geeta Colony in Delhi.

The Pracheen Shiva Mandir is located on the Yamuna floodplains. The apex court asked how an akhada can be in floodplains.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had said that Lord Shiva does not need the Court's protection and it is the people who need the lord's protection and blessings.

“The half-hearted plea by the learned counsel for the petitioner that Lord Shiva, being the deity of the temple, must be also impleaded in the present matter is a desperate attempt to give an altogether different colour to the entire dispute to sub-serve the vested interest of its members. It goes without saying that Lord Shiva does not need our protection; rather, we, the people, seek his protection and blessings. There could be no iota of doubt that Lord Shiva would be happier if the Yamuna River bed and the flood plains areas are cleared of all encroachments and unauthorised construction,” Justice Dharmesh Sharma had said, according to Bar and Bench.

The High Court had noted that there was no document to show that the temple was dedicated to the public.