The Allahabad High Court has recently adjourned the hearing on a plea challenging a demolition proceeding against Radhasoami Satsang Bhawan at Dayalbagh in Agra till October 10 and directed to maintain status quo on the land till then.
A single judge bench of Justice Manish Kumar Nigam passed an order on the petition filed by Radhasoami Satsang Sabha challenging the action by the Agra administration.
When the matter was taken up before the court, the petition was opposed by the state counsel stating that the construction had been raised by encroaching the land. However, the court stated that arguments would be heard on the next date of hearing.
Previously on September 24, a clash broke out between members of Satsang Sabha and police when a revenue team reached the disputed land to demolish the “illegal” construction. Several people got injured in the incident.
It is alleged that Radhasoami Satsang Sabha has illegally built the building on “public land”. The bone of contention was the gates installed on public land connecting the city with villages near the Yamuna River.
On September 23, district authorities, accompanied by police, reached the disputed land, and parts of “illegal” constructions, including the gates, were demolished. However, the members of Radhasoami Satsang Sabha again erected the gates.
On September 24, around 200 members of the Satsang Sabha, including women and children, protested the action of the Agra administration and pelted stones to stop the demolition drive.
Later, an FIR was registered at New Agra police station against members of the Satsang Sabha for disrupting the demolition drive and encroaching upon the government land.