No taxpayers money to build dargah: High Court
The Rajasthan High Court observed that taxpayers' money should not be used for the construction of a building of religious nature.
It directed the authorities concerned to stop the proposed construction of a dargah at Mandore village in the State.
New Delhi, Feb 3: The so-called secular brigade would find it difficult to digest but the High Court of Rajasthan has bad news for them. Hearing a PIL filed by Hariyali and Prakritik Paryavaran Vikas Sansthan, the court has held that taxpayers' money should not be used for building a dargah. The unique observation rings bells for those who waste public money to lure and build vote bank from specific communities.
The NGO petitioner had questioned the legality of the action of the Jodhpur Development Authority that had decided to construct a dargah at Mandore. Coming down heavily on the government agency, the Division Bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Rajendra Prakash Soni reprimanded it for the decision. This will certainly discourage governments who tend to waste public money in constructing dargahs or other similar structures.
Construction of the dargah at Mandore 'illegal'
The Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan has been accused of showing mercy to the Muslim community in the state, which has seen dozens of mobs that have claimed several lives. Prime Minister Ashok Gehlot's trademark policies ranged from demolishing Hindu temples to imposing restrictions on Hindu festivals to please the Muslim community.
According to the same principle of appeasing Muslims, the Congress government allowed all kinds of constructions without checking their legality. From time to time, these structures were also financed by the state so that votes could be redeemed later. The construction of this Darga in Mandore was essentially for the same vote bank.
However, the Supreme Court ensured that no madness prevails and that taxpayers' money is not used for political purposes. The court pointed out that taxpayers' money should not be used to build a religious building. Needless to say, the court also ordered a stay on the construction of the proposed dargah at Mandore village.
In addition to the source of cover, there was also a question of legality, since it had to be created in forest land. The court noted that the project in question is planned on land that has been declared as a forest area. Therefore, according to the court, construction cannot begin after that.
The court's findings cast doubt on the Congress government and questioned its policy of not only allowing Muslims to build structures on forest lands, but also funding their illegal activities.