HC Allows BDA To Demolish Temple On Govt Quarters Premises In Odisha Capital

Cuttack: The Orissa high court has allowed Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) to demolish Maa Tarini Temple on the premises of a government quarters in Unit–III under Kharavela Nagar police limits in capital city.

A vacation bench has set a two-month deadline “for shifting and relocation of the idol”.

The temple had come up in the government quarters allotted to one Pradip Kumar Mohanty. When BDA decided to demolish it, Aju Prasad Mahapatra and four others filed a petition on June 9, seeking reasonable time to relocate the idol and for construction of a new temple at another site. They pleaded with the court to postpone the demolition till the end of February 2024.

The bench of Justices R K Pattanaik and S K Mishra, however, were of the view that two months’ time would be reasonable for shifting and relocation of the idol. “It is directed that in the event the aforesaid direction is not complied with within the time stipulated, the authority concerned and in particular, BDA shall be at liberty to proceed and to take action as per and in accordance with law,” it added.