The Centre today told the Supreme Court on Friday that it is willing to hand over 200 square meter area of land to a committee of devotees for construction of Guru Ravidas temple in South Delhi.

The court said it will pronounce its final judgement on the matter on October 23.

Advertisement

The Supreme Court bench comprising of Justices Arun Mishra and S Ravindra Bhat took on record the offer made by Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Central government, and asked parties seeking construction of a temple to submit objections, if any by Monday.

Earlier, on October 4, the Supreme Court has asked the parties involved in the plea seeking permission to rebuild the Guru Ravidas temple in Tughlaqabad forest area to come up with an amicable solution on a better location for the temple.

The apex court asked Attorney General K K Venugopal and all parties to hold discussion and find an amicable solution on a better location where the temple can be built.

Attorny General Venugopal today said that he had held consultation with all parties including devotees and government officials and Centre has agreed to give the same piece of land considering sensitivity and faith of devotees for the site.

“That same 200 square metre area of the site can be handed over to a committee of devotees for construction of temple,” AG Venugopal said, adding that five out of seven petitioners, who approached court against demolition of temple have agreed to the proposal.

The DDA had demolished the temple pursuant to the orders of the apex court, which had on August 9 observed that “serious breach” had been committed by Guru Ravidas Jayanti Samaroh Samiti by not vacating the forest area as earlier ordered by the top court. The Supreme Court had said it respects everybody’s sentiments but the law has to be followed.

On August 27, the two former parliamentarians from the Congress party had moved the apex court seeking its nod to re-construct the temple, saying it is a pious site and prayers were held there for the last 500-600 years.
The petitioners had said that they are devout followers of Guru Ravidas and used to pray regularly at the site.

The temple’s demolition led to a series of protests in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana and the apex court had on August 19 directed the authorities in these areas to ensure that no law and order situation is created politically or otherwise. The national capital also witnessed protests by the Dalit community on August 21 led by Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad for the demolition of Ravidas temple by Delhi Development Authority.