Delhi Court issues notice to Archaeological Survey of India on the appeal to restore temples in Qutub Minar complex
Jains and Hindus have filed a case on restoration of 27 temples in Mehrauli however the Civil judge had rejected the suit claiming it will disturb peace amongst communities.
A Delhi Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Union of India, Archaeological Survey of India, and others on an appeal moved against the order of a Civil Judge which rejected a civil suit and sought the restoration of 27 temples in the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli.
Additional District Judge Pooja Talwar on Tuesday admitted the appeal and issued notice to all respondents. The matter is deferred to May 11 for the next hearing.
The appeal has been filed by Jain deity Tirthankara Lord Rishabh Dev, Lord Vishnu (Principal Deity, Temple Complex), and others through Advocates Hari Shankar Jain, Ranjana Agnihotri, and Jitender Singh Vishen. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain and Amita Sachdeva appeared for the appellant before the additional district judge.
Civil Judge Neha Sharma on November 29 last year, while rejecting the suit had said, “Nobody has denied that wrongs were committed in the past but such wrongs cannot be the basis for disturbing peace of our present and future.”
She also said, “There is a presumption of correctness in every official act.”
The suit claimed that according to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 27 Hindu and Jain temples were demolished and Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque was raised inside the complex reusing the materials and sought to “restore” the demolished temples.
The suit sought to declare that Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh, Lord Sun, Goddess Gauri, Lord Hanuman, Jain deity Tirthankar Lord Rishab Dev have the right to be “restored” within the temple complex at the site of Quwwatul Mosque Complex, Mehrauli, south-west Delhi “after rebuilding it with the same honour and dignity”.
It also sought to issue an injunction directing the Central government to create a trust, according to the Trust Act 1882, and hand over the management and administration of the temple complex situated within the area of Qutub Complex in Mehrauli after framing a scheme of the administration to such trust.
