New Delhi, Feb 20 Former Lok Sabha MP Ashok Tanwar on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking contempt proceedings against the Delhi Development Authority Vice Chairman and Delhi Chief Secretary for failing to implement the top court's 2019 directive for the restoration of idols and reconstruction of the Guru Ravidas temple at Tughlaqabad, Delhi.
The petition referred to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust formed by the Centre in the aftermath of the Supreme Court order in the Ayodhya case, saying it has 15 trustees, who are all Hindus, and only one from the Dalit community.
"Similarly, a committee of devotees to be formed for the construction of Guru Ravidas temple should exclusively have persons who are ardent followers of Guru Ravidas", said the petition.
The petition contended that the top court on October 2019 ordered reconstruction of the Guru Ravidas temple demolished by DDA and directed the government to constitute a committee of devotees to build the temple within six weeks. However, four months have elapsed and no committee has been formed yet.
"The committee of devotees as mandated by the judgment in the Guru Ravidas temple matter is nowhere in sight. This in itself is patent discrimination and shows the neglect of the Government towards the Scheduled Caste, most of whom are ardent believers in Guru Ravidas", said the petition.
The top court in November passed another order clarifying that a permanent structure should be constructed.
"The idol of Guru Ravidas is yet to be restored at the site. In addition, none of the directions of this court passed in its final orders dated 21.10.2019 (modified by Order dt. 25.11.2019) has been implemented", said the petition.
The petition contended that the delay in construction of Guru Ravidas temple is causing a lot of anguish and hurt among millions of people, not only in India but across the world.
"The followers of Guru Ravidas had expected justice, which unfortunately has not been meted out to them, despite orders of this Court", contended Tanwar in the petition, alleging the authorities concerned are deliberately adopting delay tactics.
Tanwar urged the top court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the contemnors and punish them for having intentionally violating the order of the top court.
( With inputs from IANS )