Madhya Pradesh High Court Demands Report on Religious Structures within Police Stations
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Bhopal, Dec 16 (NationPress) On Monday, the Madhya Pradesh High Court instructed the state government to deliver a thorough report concerning the temples and various religious structures that have been built or are in the process of being built inside police stations.
The court has allowed a period of seven days for the state government to present a response that includes a detailed list of each religious structure constructed within police stations, specifying the dates of these constructions.
This order was issued following a petition filed by advocate Satish Chandra Verma, who contested the legality of religious structures on police station properties.
The petitioner asserted that religious structures, particularly temples, have been established in over 800 police stations across Madhya Pradesh. The petition argues that such religious establishments within police stations breach the principle of religious neutrality.
During the proceedings on Monday, Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait noted that the prior report submitted by the state government was insufficient and lacked essential details.
Consequently, the court mandated the state government to provide only factual and specific details regarding the religious constructions on police station properties and requested the report within the next seven days.
The next hearing is scheduled for January 6.
"The court has clearly indicated that this issue is serious and contravenes fundamental principles of the Constitution and secularism. We anticipate the High Court will take decisive action," stated advocate Sharma.
Last month, while addressing a similar petition concerning the construction of a temple at a police station in Jabalpur district, the high court issued a stay and called for the government's response.
The high court has also sent notices to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Home), Director General of Police, Jabalpur District Collector, and police superintendents, among others, instructing them to submit their responses.
