Demolition of Gurdwara in Sikkim: status quo ordered by SC
Sikkim Government on Wednesday has been asked to maintain “status quo” at the state’s historic Gurdwara Dongmare. A petition was filed to prevent the state government from renovating the religious structure, earlier. Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra disposed of the petition after the state government’s counsel said that a similar petition was pending before the high court. The Supreme Court then asked the petitioner to approach the high court, but ordered status quo until the case was heard. The high court will hear the case on September 13 now. "We permit the applicant to be impleaded before the high court. Be it noted, we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the matter, the high court is free to decide the same in accordance with the law," the Bench said. Amritpal Singh Khalsa, approached the Supreme Court and further said; the state government had illegally removed the Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib. The state government wanted to demolish the gurdwara, by calling for a renovation, he added. The Bench asked the petitioner on Tuesday to serve a copy of the petition to the standing counsel of the state. The petitioner claimed that several historic books and documents that indicated that the gurdwara was very significant to Sikhism: the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak, had gone to Gurdwara Gurudongmare. -PTC News
