DDA made to kneel
before Law

Written by

Vinod Varshney

This fortnight-old havoc on road is unbelievable but true. The debris shown here is a soul-wrenching comment on those who have made religion a corrupt business. The huge pile of debris on the main road of Mayur Vihar Phase II, in East Delhi is created by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and is not prepared to clear it. So DDA itself is active in making the capital city of Delhi an eye-sore.

Seeing this debris, so many people for the first time came to know that the temple “Prachin Shivalay” was an unauthorized construction. Shamefully many Indians do not feel shy in breaking law yet they declare themselves reverend. Does any religion teach that laws should be violated in the name of God?



People Did Not Know that Temple Was Un-authorized

Had the unauthorized construction not been demolished, people would never have come to know that it was a shameless violation of law. In India one or two courageous persons have to take initiative, and file writ petition before a court in such matters as real politick unfortunately never supports law, it rather pampers law-breakers. Media has forgotten its watch-dog role and has apportioned itself several dubious priorities.

Several storeys above the temple were demolished by the DDA on the order of the Delhi High Court but only after a lot of delay tactics which was usual in India. “The temple has been left untouched. The religious committee of the Delhi Government which functions under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna has to decide on whether the DDA should also demolish the temple as well, but the meeting of the committee is not taking place”, says Baldev Raj the General Secretary of “The Society for Public Cause”.


Grabbing Land in the Name of Religion is Big Business


Mr Raj says, “Grabbing land in the name of religion has become a big business in India, it needs to be checked. It hurts real religious people. God is everywhere and construction of an unauthorized temple is not required for Him.” For his efforts to bring law to act he was issued threats to his life as well.

Mr Baldev Raj had filed a Writ Petition in 2007 before the Delhi High Court to get this unauthorized construction removed. The court had passed order for demolition only on March 12, 2008, but DDA did not comply with the order on one pretext or the other. Finally on December 14, 2009 Delhi High Court hammered hard and ordered DDA to comply with its order to demolish the unauthorized construction within seven days.

The unauthorized construction has been partially removed, but the road has been laden with debris. Nobody knows how long this will remain like this ! No body knows when DDA would be an efficient civic body.