Centre Agrees to Give Same Site for Ravidas Temple in Delhi

Attorney General KK Venugopal said that the recommendation is being made to ensure peace and order in the matter.

File photo of Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad sitting in a protest against the demolition of the Ravidas temple in Delhi’s Tughlaqabad area.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Bhim Army)

The Centre on Friday, 18 October, agreed to give Guru Ravidas’ devotees the same site for temple construction in Delhi where the temple was demolished in August, reports said. The Supreme Court will pass the order in this regard on 23 October.

Attorney General KK Venugopal said the recommendation is being made to ensure peace and order in the matter.

In the previous hearing on 4 October, the apex court had recommended an “amicable solution” for the reconstruction of Guru Ravidas temple on a better location after it was demolished in Tughlaqabad forest area of New Delhi, saying it respects everybody's “sentiments” but law has to be followed.

The temple was demolished by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) citing the top court’s direction. The demolition had led to a series of protests in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.

The apex court asked the parties in the matter to hold a consultation to arrive at an amicable solution on a “better land” and “better location” and said if they are agreeable, then it would pass order.

On 27 August, the petitioners had moved the top court seeking its permission to reconstruct the temple, saying it is a pious site and prayers were being held there since the last 500-600 years.

The petitioners had said that they were devout followers of Guru Ravidas and used to pray regularly at the site.

The DDA had demolished the temple citing order of the apex court, which had on 9 August observed that “serious breach” had been committed by Guru Ravidas Jayanti Samaroh Samiti by not vacating the forest area as earlier ordered by the top court.

The SC had on 19 August directed the authorities in these areas to ensure that no law and order situation is created politically or otherwise.

The top court had earlier warned against politicising the temple's demolition and said it would initiate contempt proceedings against those provoking protests and demonstrations.

(With inputs from PTI)