HC seeks replies to Sarna’s plea

New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Wednesday granted four weeks to the Delhi government to reply to the amended petition objecting to the construction of a memorial at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib complex here for those killed in the 1984 Sikh genocide.

The court asked the government to file its counter replies after it allowed the petitioner to file an amended petition.

Justice Sudershan Kumar Mishra also granted time to the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Sikh Gurd war a Man agement Committee (DSGMC) and the latter’s president Manjit Singh GK to file their responses to the amended petition filed by former DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna, seeking suspension of all construction on the ground of lack of sanction from competent authorities.

The DSGMC has decided to construct the memorial to honour those who were killed in the genocide.

Sarna had filed a plea seeking suspension of all construction activities concerning the memorial, including laying of the foundation stone, during the pendency of the petition.

The plea has also sought directions to the government and others to abide by legal obligations to ensure that there is no breach of law by raising an illegal structure on the gurdwara premises and to furnish records concerning permission granted to construct such a memorial.

The petition said there was no tradition in the Sikh religion to raise memorials in gurdwaras which were built to commemorate the martyrdom of the Gurus, with Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib commemorating the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur. It also said the DSGMC president was seeking to politicise a place of religious worship.

Source: HT