Centre promises facilities to Ayodhya pilgrims
The bench asked the govts to have a look of the list and file response within four weeks regarding the facilities which could be put in place.
By Amit Choudhary, TNN | Updated:
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday assured the Supreme Court that it would consider providing facilities for pilgrims who have to walk 4-km to reach the makeshift temple at Ayodhya without any basic amenities like drinking water and toilets.
The government made the assurance after a bench of Justices Anil R Dave and Amitava Roy asked the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government to consider providing basic facilities to people visiting the place.
The court was hearing a petition filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who pleaded the bench for facilities for the pilgrims who have to walk the 4-km stretch in the absence of a motorable road.
He said the Supreme Court had allowed 'Darshan' and ' Archana' at the site, but the Centre and state government had not made any arrangements for pilgrims. Swamy said there is no toilet, motorable road, drinking water, parking space and lockers to keep valuable materials of pilgrims.
Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh said he would talk to the authorities concerned and assured the court that all feasible facilities would be provided.
The court also asked the Uttar Pradesh government to reply to Swamy's application. It asked Swamy to give a list of facilities he wanted for the pilgrims to the Centre.
The bench asked the governments to have a look of the list and file response within four weeks regarding the facilities which could be put in place.
Swamy said the status quo order passed by the apex court in 1996 was limited to prohibiting construction of any permanent structure at the disputed site by any of the parties but there was no restriction on providing basic facilities to pilgrims at the Ramjanma Bhoomi.
The government made the assurance after a bench of Justices Anil R Dave and Amitava Roy asked the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government to consider providing basic facilities to people visiting the place.
The court was hearing a petition filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who pleaded the bench for facilities for the pilgrims who have to walk the 4-km stretch in the absence of a motorable road.
He said the Supreme Court had allowed 'Darshan' and ' Archana' at the site, but the Centre and state government had not made any arrangements for pilgrims. Swamy said there is no toilet, motorable road, drinking water, parking space and lockers to keep valuable materials of pilgrims.
Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh said he would talk to the authorities concerned and assured the court that all feasible facilities would be provided.
The court also asked the Uttar Pradesh government to reply to Swamy's application. It asked Swamy to give a list of facilities he wanted for the pilgrims to the Centre.
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The bench asked the governments to have a look of the list and file response within four weeks regarding the facilities which could be put in place.
Swamy said the status quo order passed by the apex court in 1996 was limited to prohibiting construction of any permanent structure at the disputed site by any of the parties but there was no restriction on providing basic facilities to pilgrims at the Ramjanma Bhoomi.
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