'Be it temple or dargah...': Supreme Court says structures encroaching on roads or railway tracks must be removed

The two-judge bench said India is a secular nation and that its rulings on bulldozer action

The Supreme Court said that public safety is paramount and that any religious structure, whether a temple or dargah, encroaching on roads or railway tracks must be removed.

The top court made this statement while hearing petitions challenging the use of bulldozers against individuals accused of crimes. It also extended its interim order, which bars demolitions across the country without prior judicial approval.

The two-judge bench said India is a secular nation and that its rulings on bulldozer action and anti-encroachment drives would apply on all, regardless of religion. "We are a secular country and our direction will be for all, irrespective of religion or community. If there is any religious structure in the middle of the road, be it gurudwara or dargah or temple, it cannot obstruct the public," the court stated.

"We further clarify that our order would not be applicable if there is an unauthorised structure in any public place such as road, street, footpath, abutting railway line or any river body or water bodies and also, to cases where there is an order for demolition made by a court of law," the apex court had said.