Apex court refuses to stay HC order on shrines damaged in Gujarat riots

The Supreme Court today refused to stay the High Court order directing the Gujarat government to repair religious places damaged in the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

The state government had filed an appeal against the HC order which ordered compensation for over 500 places of worships on a plea by Islamic Relief Committee of Gujarat (IRCG).

The apex court on Monday questioned the state government on restoration of damaged shrines while referring to its earlier direction to the Orissa government on formulating a scheme for the repair and restoration of churches damaged in the 2008 riots in Kandhamal district.

The court said that the state government could formulate a scheme on the lines of what the Odisha government framed for the restoration of churches, an IANS report said.

Additional Advocate General Tushar Mehta, representing Gujarat, have asked the court time to take instructions from the state government.

Mehta also told the court that his difficulty was that the high court's observation "inaction and inadequate action" was being used by people to file petitions seeking hearing by the inquiry commission.

"Based on the high court orders, petitions are being filed before the commission to hear them," Mehta was quoted saying.

Media reported that even though the court didn't stay the High Court order, it allayed Gujarat government's apprehensions that the order may be used in other litigations.

The bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra posted the matter for further hearing on August 14.