Team News Riveting
New Delhi, June 3
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) petition against construction activities around the world-famous Jagannath Temple in Puri.
A Bench of Justices B R Gavai and Hima Kohli took a strong stand and observed that the plea was a publicity interest litigation and such petitions need to be nipped in the bud since they waste the time of the courts.
The top court was hearing the petition challenging Orissa High Court order that had allowed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey assessing the damage, if any, caused by construction activity around the temple. The plea contended that the construction was causing cracks in the foundations of the temple.
The construction by the State government was towards the Puri Srimandir Parikrama Project (temple heritage corridor), with the excavation particularly affecting an outer wall called the Meghanad Pacheri, the petitioners had contended.
The Supreme Court noted in its order that the construction was in consonance with the earlier order of the apex court in Mrinalini Padhi case.
