Panel on unauthorised religious sites to file report: HC told

The Delhi High Court was today told that the committee on unauthorised religious structures, which was asked to re-verify the list of such buildings in Chandni Chowk area here, had not yet concluded its deliberations and would file its report soon.
A bench of justices S Muralidhar and Vibhu Bakhru, which was hearing a matter pertaining to reconstruction of a water kiosk near Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, said it would proceed in the matter after getting the report of the committee.
The bench had on April 8 asked the Lieutenant Governor, who is Chairperson of the committee, to call a meeting to re-verify the list of unauthorised religious structures in Chandni Chowk area which was given to the court earlier.

During the hearing, Delhi government's senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra told the bench that deliberations of the committee were going on and they would soon file a report in a sealed cover.
"Let the committee consider and take a decision," the bench observed and also asked on what basis the earlier list of unauthorised religious structures in Chandni Chowk area was made.
The bench had earlier expressed its displeasure over the reconstruction of the water kiosk near Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib after its demolition on judicial orders and warned that it would not tolerate people taking law into their hands.

It had said that it would decide whether the kiosk was a heritage site or not and asked the government to inform it when the kiosk was built.

The high court had earlier ordered removal of illegal encroachments from footpaths and roadside of Chandni Chowk.
A mob allegedly indulged in violent protests last month when municipal officials had demolished the kiosk in the drive to remove encroachments following the high court's March 28 order. The 'piao' was rebuilt overnight after the officials had left.
Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) had also filed a plea in the high court seeking that the water kiosk as well as another structure at Bhai Matidas Chowk there be not demolished as these were heritage structures.