SHC orders officials to protect 160-year-old temple

Worshippers have been barred from entering temple in Sujawal district, claims petitioner

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the revenue and police officials to protect the Hindu community's 160-year-old place of worship in District Sujawal.

A two-judge bench, comprising justices Nadeem Akhtar and Faheem Ahmed Siddiqui, also directed the Thatta deputy commissioner to take action against private persons who had allegedly illegally occupied the temple's land.

These directives were issued on Wednesday in a case pertaining to the occupation of the Shewalo Mandir and massan [cremation area] and the barring of worshippers from entering the temple. The petition was filed by Ashwar Kumar, who had named the Sujawal deputy commissioner, Shahbandar mukhtiarkar, Chohar Jamali police station SHO and others as respondents.



The petitioner informed the judges that there was a 160-year-old temple, Survey No 95, in Chohar Jamali union council where he alleged that three private persons - Sattar, Pappu and Malo - had recently illegally occupied the temple's premises and were not allowing the worshippers to enter to perform their religious rituals.

He said complaints had been filed with the Shahbandar mukhtiarkar, Chohar Jamali SHO and others but no action had been taken. Therefore, the court was pleaded to order them to take action against the private persons and ensure free access for worshippers.

Hearing the case on March 3, the court had summoned Shahbandar Mukhtiarkar Abdul Rasheed and Chohar Jamali SHO sub-inspector Mushtaq Ahmed. During Wednesday's proceedings, both the officials appeared in court along with the Sujawal deputy commissioner.



The police official filed comments and also gave an undertaking before the court to provide full protection to the petitioners against the private persons. He also assured that the place of worship of the Hindu community will also be protected.

Rasheed pointed out that the petitioner's complaint was pending before the deputy commissioner, who also undertook to take action on the petitioner's complaint in accordance with the law.

The judges directed them to provide protection to the worshippers and their place of worship. They also directed the DC to take action on the petitioner's pending complaint and file a compliance report, failing which, he will appear in court, the judges cautioned, fixing the matter on April 7.