HC orders Rohtak MC to follow SC ruling over removal of statue on public land
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the Rohtak Municipal Corporation to follow the Supreme Court's ruling regarding installation of statues on public land.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal issued the order on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a local resident for the removal of a statue of late Haryana minister Seth Sri Krishan Das Goel installed at Sonepat Stand in Rohtak city as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
"A statue of the late minister was installed at Sonipat Stand in Rohtak while his son Manmohan Goel was the Mayor of Rohtak. Devender Sharma, a resident of Rohtak district, filed a PIL in the High Court, maintaining that the installation of the statue violated Supreme Court's directions in this regard," said Sharma's lawyer Nikhil Ghai.
The Division Bench observed that the written statement filed on behalf of Municipal Corporation, Rohtak, justifies the installation of statue of the late minister on the land, which is not denied by the respondents to be public land.
"Dharmender Singh, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Rohtak, who appears virtually, has been apprised of the order dated 18.01.2013 (Annexure P-7) of the Apex Court in Union of India Vs. State of Gujarat and others... whereby installation of statues on public land has been prohibited. The directions have also been issued not only by the Apex Court but also by various High Courts for removal of such statues, if installed on public land," the order maintains.
"Accordingly, we direct respondent No.4 – Municipal Corporation, Rohtak, to follow the rule of law, as laid down by the Apex Court, and submit compliance report," states the order.
Rohtak Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dharmender Singh said they had sought legal opinion regarding the matter from the office of the Advocate-General, Haryana. Former Rohtak Mayor Manmohan Goel said the statue had been installed after following the due procedure and obtaining the requisite permission from the government. "We will now approach the High Court regarding the matter," he stated.
