HC asks state to justify construction of wall

Mumbai, Oct 3 (UNI) Intelligence agencies should assure public in general and devotees in particular that, they were completely safe when they enter Siddhivinayak Temple in Dadar, the Bombay High Court said today and once again directed the state government to justify construction of a wall, occupying a big portion of the main road.

Some residents in the locality of the Siddhivinayak Temple have moved the court against the construction of a wall, which has taken a major portion of the main road.

During hearing of their public interest litigation, Advocate General Ravi Kadam today informed the court that, there was specific information from intelligence agencies and in light of that the wall in question was constructed, adding, procedure as required under section 89(3) of the BMC Act had been followed.

But, a division bench comprising Justice J N Patel and Justice Amjad Sayyad asked a question ''as to whether it was appropriate to regularise a construction on road, will you regularise a wall if constructed on road by, say, Mahim Durgah for the same reason''.

Justice Patel also observed that the intelligence agencies should now be ready to certify that the Temple was absolutely safe after construction of the wall and assure public in general and devotees in particular that they were safe within the temple premises.

He commented that the state should ensure the temple was secure from both the angles, one being the imminent terrorist threat and the other being threat from the trustees, regarding utilisation and distribution of funds.

UNI