AUTHOR VINAY KOCHHAR.CHANDIGARH.
Taking a tough stand on illegal construction in Harike Wetland Sanctuary located in Ferozepur, Punjab, the Punjab-Haryana High Court said that the Gurus had said do not harass the animals, but you have built in the forest itself.
The High Court has ordered the Punjab government to remove illegal constructions related to two Gurudwaras. Ferozepur resident Jaskiran Jeet Singh filed a petition in the High Court alleging that hundreds of acres of wetland spread across Ferozepur, Tarn Taran and Kapurthala districts are being illegally encroached upon on a large scale.
According to the petitioner, the sale deed cannot be issued as per the rules of Harike Wetland Sanctuary located in Ferozepur district. The Punjab government had also issued a notification in this regard, but between 2007 and 2008, sale deed of some part of this land was done and by August 2015, construction work has started on a large scale in this sanctuary, which also includes two Gurudwaras.
The High Court had ordered to maintain status quo on construction in 2016. The High Court had sought a reply regarding two Gurudwaras whether they are outside the forest area or inside the sanctuary. On Friday, the High Court was told that both the Gurudwaras are inside the sanctuary. The Gurudwaras said that they are religious institutions, people’s faith is attached to it. The court said that there are more Gurudwaras, you can go there and dedicate your faith.
The High Court said that the Gurus had always said that do not harass the animals, you have ruined it by building in the forest area. The Gurus never said that you should go and build a Gurudwara in the forest and harm the environment.
The High Court reprimanded the Punjab government and said that the construction was going on and you were sleeping. The High Court, while disposing of the petition, has ordered the Punjab government to remove the illegal construction. Also, the private respondents have been given the liberty to claim rights over the land of the Gurudwara in the civil court.