Bengal govt orders police to assist in the elimination of non secular constructions constructed on public land in 8 districts

On January 27, the Home and Hill Affairs Department of West Bengal has written to Police Departments of eight districts to offer help to the district magistrates (DMs) in eradicating all ‘unauthorised’ temples and shrines from the general public locations. The DMs of Darjeeling, Alipurduar, Coochbehar, Kalimpong, East Midnapore, North 24 Parganas and East Burdwan have been requested to provoke motion towards the ‘unauthorised’ constructions on January 27 final 12 months.

West Bengal authorities requested State Police to offer help to DMs of eight districts to take away ‘unauthorized’ temples, shrines from public locations. (Source: Zee News)

The order reads, “Director General & Inspector General of Police, West Bengal – with the request to instruct the Commissioner of Police and Superintendent of Police, having jurisdiction in the district mentioned above for assisting the respective District Magistrates, in the matter.”

The DMs have been requested to submit a report of the motion taken towards the unauthorised constructions to the state residence ministry by February 16, 2022. The deadline talked about within the order is approaching, which could possibly be the rationale for a recent order to the state Police for helping the DMs.

The 2010 order that directed a survey of unauthorised constructions

Notably, the DMs have been requested to provoke motion based mostly on a authorities order issued in April 2010. In the order, it was acknowledged, “The Government will not allow any new unauthorised constructions in public places. The State, Government Departments, and Local Bodies such as Panchayats and Municipalities will be alert enough to detect and stop such constructions at the earliest stage before the structure gains public acceptance. The demolition, if it is necessary, will be the responsibility of the Department owning the land.”

The govt of WB had ordered to take away the constructions until there have been compelling causes for not doing so. The order additionally requested the govt. departments and native our bodies to survey the general public locations to establish the unlawful constructions. The report was to be submitted on July 31, 2010.

It additional added that the survey needed to be carried out whereas preserving in thoughts the situation, age of the construction and the extent to which the construction was inflicting obstruction within the motion of autos or pedestrians. Further, the grievance the locals obtained have been to be taken into consideration as properly. The order had requested the officers to see if there was a risk to relocate the construction to land close by and likewise the implications in sustaining regulation and order if the construction was eliminated.