Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 22: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by president and two members of Executive Committee of Dewan Mandir Society seeking declaration of Dewan Mandir as protected monument, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice D S Thakur today issued notice to Chief Secretary, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation and Deputy Commissioner Jammu.
The DB also directed JMC to ensure that no illegal construction takes place in Dewan Mandir and a complete vigil is maintained on the property dispute. The Deputy Commission has been directed not to allow any unauthorized debris/malba during pendency of the PIL.
In the PIL, it has been submitted that the Dewan Mandir is an ancient temple which had been constructed in the year 1897 by one Dewan Jawala Sahib and deities of Laxmi Narayan were installed there. The temple has a huge hall in which Ram Leela is performed every year and 70 shops having cost of Rs 25 lakh each.
The temple was given to Dewan Jawala Shahay and Pujaries were appointed for the maintenance of temple. But at present the temple property is being destroyed and some part of it is being encroached and a portion has been converted into parking by Jammu Development Authority. There is no maintenance of the temple property by Jammu Municipal Corporation and the JDA.
The Deputy Commissioner has been approached many times but he never visited the temple and nothing has been done so far for the maintenance of the temple property, the PIL said.
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