The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea
seeking re-building of the religious places, situated within the Telangana State Secretariat Building, that were allegedly torn down while demolition of the Secretariat Building. A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan & Subhash Reddy observed that the prayer could not have been allowed under Article 32 as it was the Telangana High Court which had permitted the demolition of the secretariat building. The petition has been filed by Advocate Khaja Aijazuddin, practicing Advocate at Telangana High Court, alleging that two Mosques and one Temple, situated/ within the vicinity of the Secretariat Building were damaged during the demolition process.The present plea, though not concerned with the demolition of the Secretariat per se, avers that the religious places situate therein have existed since a long time and their demolition amounts to deprivation of citizens' fundamental rights enshrined under Articles 14, 21, 25 and 26 of the Constitution.It is prayed that the State Government be directed to pass an Executive Order or Resolution in the State Assembly, making a commitment to rebuild the Religious Places, i.e., two Mosques and one Temple, within the Secretariat Complex Building, at the same places where the structures previously stood.
By- ANANYA JAIN University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun.