IMPHAL, Jan 29 : The state government has failed to comply the directive of a Supreme Court ruling that no unauthorized construction shall be carried out or permitted in the name of Church, Temple, Gurudwara etc. on public streets, public parks or other public places etc. as there have been numerous establishment of Temples and Churches which have been already constructed by individuals or groups in the greater Imphal areas without the consent of the government.
It may be mentioned, the Supreme Court of India had issued an order to maintain the sanctity of the public places in a civil appellate jurisdiction petition for special leave to appeal (writ) No. 8519 of 2006, in the matter of Union of India verses state of Gujarat and others recently that, no unauthorized construction shall be carried out or permitted in the name of Church, Temple, Gurudwara etc. on public streets, public parks or other public places etc. as there have been numerous established of Temple, Churches in the generally recorgnised public places of the states.
The recent directive of the Supreme Court had been extensively circulated to every state including Manipur and it has been learnt form official sources that the chief secretary of the state have also filed an official affidavit to the Supreme Court after going through all relevant records pertaining to the cases prior to the recent directive of the Supreme Court.
The affidavit was submitted on November 19, last years.
Besides, the Supreme Court had also issued an order on December 7 for non authorizations of construction of Churches, mosques, Temple, gurudwara etc. in public streets, public park or other public places.
In the meantime, during recent IFP investigation it has been learnt that, there have been extensive establishment of Churches and worshiping places in the greater Imphal areas in public places.
These include, a local Church in government quarters occupied by Lalrorung, Retd. Compositor of TD, in Lamphel, Evangelical Free Church at the government quarter jointly occupied by RD Bingpui MFS, Asst Audit Officer and Ngamkah Apam Staff Nurse RIMS, India Press Batarian Church in government quarter owned by Lutuipuui UDC of Forest and Wild Life Govt. of Manipur in Lamphel, Christian Jhalaipan Church inside the quarter of Chouzading, Dy. Chief Inspector of Commerce and Industry at Lamphel, Church a Christ inside the quarter of Thangkhodou Hangzo, driver of Session court Manipur West, Lamphel, Evangilical Bapatis Covention, lying near Qt. No. T-II/B-37&42 Lamphel, Wasteland Methodist Church inside the campus of government quarter at Lamphel occupied by Ngurtunson UDC, GAD and Lunthaipui Hmar, staff of Directorate of Commerce and Industry, Tanghkul Baptist Church at Lamphel lying near supply store office & GREF, Independent Church of India at Lamphel inside the campus of government quarter occupied by TC Maloon Zoumi ASW (PWD), Young Paite Assn (Hostel) lying between Qt No. T-11/C-29, T-11/C-42 and T-0IV/C-A of Lamphel.
Further, there are also many authorized construction of Churches in the Game Village including, Chin Baptist Church, inside the quarter of L Ngalianthang, Inspector CID (SB) at National Game Village Langol, Evangelical Convention Church, inside the official quarter owned by V. Valte, SBI Paona Bazar, KBC Centre Church inside the official quarter of Ngamlal Doungel, Inforantion Asst. DIPR, a church inside the official quarter owned by Darlangthuang, fieldman of Commerce and Industry Deptt.
At Langol Housing Complex, Chirst of the King Catholic church inside the official quarter owned by one Madhumangol peon of Imphal West Div-PHED, United Pentecostal Church Church, Langol inside the official quarter of Peter Helugam, UDC of Road Task, PWD, Langol Christian Church, inside the official quarter of Ngaizathang Mate, UDC of Forest Deptt. Tangkhul Baptist Church inside the official quarter of Ch. Kunjabati Devi staff Nurse, JNIMS, Evangelical Free Church of India inside the official quarter of L Papabi, head constable of Excise office Lamphel, Deniah Paryer Fellowship Church inside the official quarter of Lamkhoching Kipgen staff of Family Welfare deptt., Independent Church of India (Hmar) inside the official quarter of K Thongkhothang, Church of Christ inside the official quarter of K Bhogendra of Agriculture staff, Presbyterian of Yeweh Paryer Hall inside the official quarter of Lunkhomang Haokip, staff of Electricity deptt., Evangelical Baptist Church, Evangelical Baptist Church Convention (Paite) inside the vacated quarter of T-II/F-61 of Langol Housing complex, The church of Jesus Christ inside the quarter of L Ramchandra staff of Manipur State Bank, Langol Meitei Baptist Church inside the quarter of AS Philachun, Accountant, CADA, Mao Paomei Baptist Church inside the quarter of Kaisho Theko Asst. teacher and Believer Church inside the government quarter owned by one Lalwikim, LDC, Gram Sevak Centre Imphal.
In fact the matter of unauthorized construction of Temple, Churches and Mosque in the public places was already viewed seriously in the state considering the possibilities of religious frictions between people of different faiths.
Members of the Opposition parties had even put a Calling Attention motion in a sitting of the House earlier to passed a resolution to prevent the construction of Church, Temple, Gurudwara etc. on goverment properties in unauthorised manner.
Sources point out that if the Supreme Court directive is to be followed in letter and spirit, even the unauthorized construction of a temple inside the chief minister’s bungalow during the tenurship of W Nipamacha Singh as chief minister would have to be demolished.