The city police was today directed by the Delhi High Court to file a status report on security measures taken by it in and around Kalkaji temple.
A division bench of acting Chief Justice B D Ahmad and Justice Vibhu Bakhru also asked the fire department to file a separate status report whether the temple management committee has complied with the fire safety norms or not in the temple.
The court's direction came on a PIL filed by Piyush Joshi, an advocate, raising issues of public safety and also seeking directions for Delhi Police to provide adequate security at the temple as the same is always crowded.
Issuing notices also to the Centre, Sri Kalkaji Mandir Prabhandhak Sudhar Committee, Delhi government, Lieutenant Governor, DDA, MCD besides Police Commissioner, SHO-Kalkaji, and Delhi fire service, the bench sought their responses by September 18.
The bench in its order made it clear that court cannot do anything inside the temple but the issues related to outside can be considered.
In his PIL, the petitioner said the prevailing condition in and around the temple is "deplorable" as there is a lack of proper hygiene and sanitation, mismanagement, lack of security, unauthorised occupation of dharamshalas within the temple premises, lack of basic amenities etc.
The advocate said "the conditions in the temple premises do not conform to any civic standard of sanitation, health and fire safety."
It added no security measures are in place at the temple to prevent untoward incidents.
