Demolition Of Key Religious, Heritage Structures Outside Puri’s Jagannath Temple Slammed By Indic Collective

Legal advocacy group Indic Collective which strives to usher in an Indic Renaissance has slammed the demolition of heritage structures outside the Jagannath temple in Puri which includes various religions structures.

In the press release, Indic Collective expressed deep shock at the demolition of heritage structures outside the temple by the government authorities.

It informed that demolishing such structures goes against the Place of Worship Act, 1991 which prohibits the physical modification of any religious structure.

It also objected to the “illegal” nature of the structures by arguing that they built hundreds of years before the Republic of India came into existence.

The release adds that three mathas which have been demolished held deep historic ties with the Jagannath temple and are of deep religious significance for the devotees.

Indic Collective added that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has notified 8 structures as heritage but at the same time has failed to protect them from the demolition drive.

Indic Collective has already filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against this demolition cum beautification drive but it is still pending before the court.