UP: Government orders to Remove all Roadside Religious Structures

Yogi Aditya Nath led Uttar Pradesh government has ordered to remove all the religious structures on public roads on March 11, 2021.

Highlights

The Home Department released the official notification which stated that no structure or construction of religious nature shall be allowed on the public roads, streets, roadside or pavements. The official press release also states that, if any such construction of the structure has come up on or after January 1, 2011 it shall be removed with the immediate effect. These instructions were issued by state government in line with the order of supreme court.

What does the home department direct?

The home department of the Uttar Pradesh government has directed the district magistrates and Mandalayukt across all the districts to remove all religious places that have encroached the roads. The senior administrative and police officials at district level have also been informed that if any such religious construction or encroachment has been done on public roads on or after January 1, 2011, then those constructions should be shifted to land offered by followers of that religion or any private land proposed by people who are responsible for its management within six months. The order further states that, the concerned officials will be personally responsible if these instructions are not followed. Disobedience of the orders will be taken up as the contempt of orders of high court and it will be considered as criminal contempt. The district magistrates have been asked to submit the report by March 14 stating the number of religious places that were removed after the order.

Background 

In April 2016, the Supreme Court of India had put the states in questions for not removing the encroachments in public places because of illegal religious structures. The court had stated that such unauthorised religious structures on roads or near drains is an insult to God.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2021