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The plea states that there is no eminent need for demolition of ‘Kunj Galis’ and various 100-year-old temples as the crowd around Thakur Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj temple can easily be maintained by an alternative plan
A PIL has been filed before the Allahabad High Court opposing the state government's plan to demolish temples and Kunj Galis in Vrindavan for the Vrindavan Banke Bihari Temple Corridor project, which includes the construction of public amenities like toilets and gardens.
The plea, filed by one Pankaj Saraswat through advocates Priyanka Mishra, Arushi Birla, and Utkarsh Birla states that 'Kunj Galis' hold religious significance for millions of Hindus and that their demolition would violate Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.
Kunj Galis are believed to be where the eternal Lilas of Lord Krishna and Radhaji occur, making them integral to the religious sentiments of Hindus. The PIL also states that the proposed corridor for Thakur Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj's temple jeopardizes Vrindavan's cultural and historical identity, including the existence of Kunj Galis and various temples.
The plea further contends that the state government plans to demolish centuries-old temples and Kunj Galis without the authority of law and without following due process and procedure prescribed by law. This, it claims, infringes upon the fundamental rights of the applicant and Hindus under Article 25 of the Constitution.
Additionally, the proposed construction near protected monuments is in violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, the plea states.
The PIL seeks to halt the demolition of Kunj Galis and temples in Vrindavan and prevent any construction within 100 meters of protected monuments, including Thakur Shri Radhavallabh Lal Ji Maharaj and Thakur Shri Madan Mohan Ji Maharaj temples.
It deems the proposal for crowd management through demolition and livelihood disruption as irrational and unreasonable.
As per the plea, there is no eminent need for demolition of ‘Kunj Galis’ and various 100-year-old temples as the crowd can easily be maintained by an alternative plan.
"The darshans of Thakur Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj can easily be facilitated through barricading, removal of illegal encroachments and providing the proposed facilities from the vast tract of land available merely 150 metres from the temple," the plea states.
In light of these arguments, the PIL urges the court to instruct the authorities not to proceed with the demolition of Kunj Galis, temples, or the alteration of Vrindavan's cultural identity around the temple of Thakur Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj for the corridor project.
It also seeks an order preventing construction within 100 meters of ASI-protected monuments being temples of Thakur Shri Radhavallabh Lal Ji Maharaj and Thakur Shri Madan Mohan Ji Maharaj.
Moreover, it seeks a specific direction to the respondent authorities not to use force to obtain consent for acquisition from common people whose houses and shops are proposed to be acquired/taken over.
Case Title: Pankaj Saraswat v. State of UP and Others
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