Sanctity of worship places: Petitioner seeks ban on entry of people with shoes on inside temple

IHC moved against CADD, ICT and IMC for not taking action against disrespectful visitors

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued a notice to the federal government to file its response over alleged desecration of a temple located in the Saidpur Village.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued notice to the Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) after the petitioner sought court’s help in maintaining sanctity of the holy place.

Adil Gill, through his counsel Yasir Mehmood Chaudhry, argued that since the authorities had not imposed any restrictions or any advisories, visitors disrespected the sanctity of the temple by walking through it with their shoes on.

Further, he added that visitors make a lot of commotion and take pictures inside the temple which hurts the sentiments of the petitioner and the Hindu Community.

“The temple is as sacred, sacrosanct and holy as a mosque for the Muslims and a church for the Christians,” he stated.

The secretary CADD, Capital Development Authority (CDA), Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) through its Chief Commissioner and Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) through its Mayor were listed as respondents.

The court was told that Gill, a Hindu, had written applications to the respondents back in May to help maintain the sanctity of the site but no action had been taken in this regard so far.

He added that by not taking any action, the respondents were violating Article 20 (freedom to profess religion and to make religious institutions) and Article 36 (protection of minorities) of the Constitution. He urged the court to direct the respondents to appear personally before the court and explain their inaction and to ban those visitors from entering the temple while wearing shoes.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2016.