SHC gives KMC a week to restore temple
Allowing a week's time, the judges adjourned the hearing till October 14, when progress will be reviewed
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) gave the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and private builder, Bahria Town, a week from Friday to restore the historic temple in Clifton.
The 150-year-old Shri Ratneshwar Mahadev temple was damaged during the excavation nearby as part of the traffic improvement plan being carried out in the area.
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, was hearing the petition filed by the All Pakistan Hindu Panchayat's general secretary, Ravi Dawani, who had sought directives for the provincial authorities to protect the historic building, which has been declared as national heritage.
On September 6, the bench had directed the KMC and Bahria Town to ensure protection and restoration of the structures of the temple, which were damaged during the excavation. On the last date of the hearing, the judges had directed them to submit a report on the efforts to protect and preserve the temple.
On Friday, petitioner's lawyer Haider Waheed expressed his anxiety as the builders have yet to start work on the restoration despite court orders.
Advocate Khalid Javed, who was representing the builder, said his client has already engaged a private consultancy firm to prepare a design for the protective measures that will be put in place. Planning is underway, he said, adding that the work will commence within seven working days from today (Friday).
Allowing a week's time, the judges adjourned the hearing till October 14, when they would take up the matter again to see progress on the implementation of their orders.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2014.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) gave the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and private builder, Bahria Town, a week from Friday to restore the historic temple in Clifton.
The 150-year-old Shri Ratneshwar Mahadev temple was damaged during the excavation nearby as part of the traffic improvement plan being carried out in the area.
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, was hearing the petition filed by the All Pakistan Hindu Panchayat's general secretary, Ravi Dawani, who had sought directives for the provincial authorities to protect the historic building, which has been declared as national heritage.
On September 6, the bench had directed the KMC and Bahria Town to ensure protection and restoration of the structures of the temple, which were damaged during the excavation. On the last date of the hearing, the judges had directed them to submit a report on the efforts to protect and preserve the temple.
On Friday, petitioner's lawyer Haider Waheed expressed his anxiety as the builders have yet to start work on the restoration despite court orders.
Advocate Khalid Javed, who was representing the builder, said his client has already engaged a private consultancy firm to prepare a design for the protective measures that will be put in place. Planning is underway, he said, adding that the work will commence within seven working days from today (Friday).
Allowing a week's time, the judges adjourned the hearing till October 14, when they would take up the matter again to see progress on the implementation of their orders.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2014.