Heritage Corridor In Puri: Police Register Case Against Collector & Others On Court’s Order

Bhubaneswar: Even as the Supreme Court reserved its orders on petitions against heritage corridor in Odisha’s Puri town for Friday, police have registered a case against district collector in this regard.

Singhadwara Police in the pilgrim town registered the case on Thursday on the direction of SDJM court, Puri. The court issued the order after hearing a petition filed by the Bar Association of Puri.

The police have registered the case under sections 2D(C), 30 (A) of Ancient Monuments Act against Puri district collector, TATA Projects manager and OBCC Executive Officer.

The secretary of the Bar had filed the petition in the SDJM court seeking instruction to police to register a case against the officials for ‘illegal’ digging and construction activities in the prohibited zone around Jagannath temple under the Srimandir Parikrama Project.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the petitions challenging the digging and construction being undertaken by the Odisha government as part of the heritage corridor.

A vacation bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Hima Kohli was hearing two special leave petitions (SPLs) challenging the Orissa High Court order on the matter. The High Court in its order had refused to restrain the state government from carrying out construction around the 12th-century shrine.

The apex court had fixed on Friday to pronounce its verdict on the matter.

Also Read: SC Reserves Verdict On Puri Heritage Corridor Pleas: Know The Arguments Of Petitioners, Odisha Govt