Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court has directed the defence ministry to decide within four weeks on the removal of a temple declared unauthorised on Cantonment Board land in Jhansi.The court directed the Additional Solicitor General of India (ASGI), SP Singh, representing the central govt, to obtain necessary instructions and file a compliance report by the next hearing on Dec 9.A division bench of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prashad passed the order on a writ petition filed by a businessman, Gaurav Agarwal, seeking removal of the unauthorised temple structure from Cantonment Board land in Jhansi.In its order dated Nov 4, the court observed, “Let the defence ministry take a final decision in the matter of removal of religious structure within four weeks. Let ASGI SP Singh obtain necessary instructions and file compliance report by the next date fixed, failing which, we will be compelled to take a serious view of the matter.”During the hearing, the court was informed that the principal director, Defence Estates, Southern Command, Pune, had forwarded the petitioner’s letter to the director general, Defence Properties, Ministry of Defence, for necessary approval.Earlier, on Aug 21, the HC had recorded the submission of the counsel appearing for the respondents that the state officer had passed a final order under Section 5 of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, declaring the temple structure on the Cantonment Board premises unauthorised and directing its removal.
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