Access blocked: 200-year-old temple next to Port Grand awaits restoration
SHC issues contempt notices to chief secretary and others over delay.
A picture from the Shri Laxmi Narain temple. PHOTO: EMA ANIS
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court issued contempt notices to Sindh chief secretary, culture secretary and others over delays in the restoration of Shri Laxmi Narain temple at a hearing on Tuesday.
The temple, which is located in Native Jetty, Karachi, is believed to be 200 years old. It is the only temple in the country which has direct access to the sea. A member of the Hindu community, Kailash Wishram, who was living on the temple’s premises, had gone to court against the demolition of some of the structures in the temple. His lawyer, Zain Jatoi, had told the court that the route from the temple to the sea was blocked by the construction work being carried out by Port Grand and Karachi Port Trust.
Wishram pointed out it was important for the Hindu community to have access to the sea to be able to perform their religious rituals. “This route has been cut off since the staircase which led from the temple to the sea has been blocked,” he said.“The authorities have also demolished some temples within the compound which prevents the Hindu community from performing their rituals.”
The temple’s caretaker told The Express Tribune earlier that the demolition was carried out on the orders of the Minister for Excise and Taxation Mukesh Chawla, who denied these allegations.
On September 14, 2012, the court had ordered its nazir [official] to inspect the site and see whether any construction work was being done at the temple’s site. Wishram told the judges on Tuesday that the court had ordered the relevant authorities earlier to reconstruct the demolished structures and restore the staircase leading to the sea.
The bench, headed by Justice Maqbool Baqar, issued notices to file comments at a later date to be decided by the office.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2013.
The Sindh High Court issued contempt notices to Sindh chief secretary, culture secretary and others over delays in the restoration of Shri Laxmi Narain temple at a hearing on Tuesday.
The temple, which is located in Native Jetty, Karachi, is believed to be 200 years old. It is the only temple in the country which has direct access to the sea. A member of the Hindu community, Kailash Wishram, who was living on the temple’s premises, had gone to court against the demolition of some of the structures in the temple. His lawyer, Zain Jatoi, had told the court that the route from the temple to the sea was blocked by the construction work being carried out by Port Grand and Karachi Port Trust.
Wishram pointed out it was important for the Hindu community to have access to the sea to be able to perform their religious rituals. “This route has been cut off since the staircase which led from the temple to the sea has been blocked,” he said.“The authorities have also demolished some temples within the compound which prevents the Hindu community from performing their rituals.”
The temple’s caretaker told The Express Tribune earlier that the demolition was carried out on the orders of the Minister for Excise and Taxation Mukesh Chawla, who denied these allegations.
On September 14, 2012, the court had ordered its nazir [official] to inspect the site and see whether any construction work was being done at the temple’s site. Wishram told the judges on Tuesday that the court had ordered the relevant authorities earlier to reconstruct the demolished structures and restore the staircase leading to the sea.
The bench, headed by Justice Maqbool Baqar, issued notices to file comments at a later date to be decided by the office.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2013.