Reconstruction of kiosk at gurdwara angers Delhi High Court

Expressing displeasure over the reconstruction of a water kiosk near the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk area after its demolition on judicial orders, the Delhi high court warned it will not tolerate people taking law into their hands.

“Why piao (water kiosk) is not removed We do not approve of people taking law into their hands. This tendency of people to think they can dictate what will happen despite court orders, that culture is what we want to get rid off. That won’t be tolerated. We do not want a situation where there is breakdown of law and order.

“This is not about the ‘piao’. For us it is about the dignity of the court and upholding the rule of law. There will always be a situation where someone is not happy,” a bench of Justices S. Muralidhar and Vibhu Bakhru said.

The court also pulled up the Delhi government when it said the water kiosk was only for providing free drinking water. The court asked the government: “Why don’t you as government provide free drinking water in that area as well as entire Delhi whose citizens desperately need it.”

“Don’t distinguish between people who go to a gurdwara or temple and people on the streets. We would be happy if you provide drinking water to all people in the Chandni Chowk area and rest of Delhi, especially in this weather,” the bench said.

The court also issued notice to the Delhi government, its public works department and North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) seeking their replies on a plea by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) seeking that the water kiosk as well as another structure at Bhai Matidas Chowk there not be demolished as these were heritage structures.

DSGMC also said it was not heard before the two structures were declared unauthorised.

The court said it will decide whether the kiosk was a heritage site or not and asked the government to inform it when the kiosk was built.

The high court had earlier ordered removal of illegal encroachments from footpaths and roadside of Chandni Chowk.

A mob took to violent protests on Wednesday when municipal officials demolished the kiosk in the drive to remove encroachments following the high court’s March 28 order. The “piao” was rebuilt overnight after the officials left.