The Patna High Court imposed a cost of Rs 15,000/- on the Petitioner and dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking a direction to the respondent authorities of the National Highway Authority of India to construct a temple with two deities in a site provided by the villagers of Mansapur.
It is alleged that the respondent authorities, specifically the officials of the NHAI, had given an undertaking which they are now resiling from. The villagers had provided an identified site for construction of temple and the cost of construction was to be borne by the NHAI. Though the same was agreed upon, the NHAI later backed out.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice Harish Kumar noted that there is nothing produced in the petition to establish an undertaking given by the NHAI or even an indication of the site in which the NHAI had agreed to construct the temple. The documents produced are all representations and estimates; which are not properly authenticated.
The petitioner has also made reference to company and alleged that they are not paying the money for the construction of the temple to the villagers; but it has not been impleaded in the party array.
The NHAI has filed an affidavit dated 07.03.2024, wherein it is specifically stated that the NH-104, construction of which raises the question agitated in the case, is under the NH Division, Road Construction Department, Sitamarhi, Government of Bihar and not under the NHAI. Hence, definitely, the assertion that an undertaking was made by the NHAI officials that the temple would be constructed with two deities at an identified site, is a deliberate falsehood.
The Court further noted that the Circle Officer, Laukahi, Madhubani has filed a detailed counter affidavit. According to him, on 06.12.2022, the idols from the old temple were shifted with protection of the police force to the newly constructed temple in the presence of the Magistrate and the villagers. It is also stated that the Revenue Clerk has reported to the Circle Officer that regular Puja Path, Rag Bhog is performed in the temple. The new temple was constructed out of the money sanctioned by the State Government.
Hence, obviously, the petition filed as public interest litigation is misconceived, for there cannot be any public interest litigation filed for shifting of a temple already constructed. Further, the new construction having been carried out has not been mentioned in the writ petition; which is a clear suppression of fact. The undertaking said to have been made by the NHAI officials also is found to be a deliberate falsehood , the Court said.
“Considering the entire circumstances, we are of the opinion that the writ petition is to be dismissed with exemplary costs of Rs. 15,000/- to be paid by the petitioner to the Bihar State Legal Services Authority. We do so. The costs will have to be paid within a period of two weeks and if not, the Bihar State Legal Services Authority shall be entitled to proceed for recovery by taking measures similar to recovery of arrears due on land through the District Magistrate, in which event the petitioner shall be liable for the charges incurred for making such recovery, which have to be recovered by the State”, the order reads.