The Supreme Court on Thursday gave time till May 31, next year to Uttarakhand Government to demolish the four illegal religious structures built on public land in Haridwar in view of upcoming ‘Kumbh Mela’ which is scheduled to be held in the city from January, 2021.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and M R Shah said, “For the reasons given in the application and especially that ‘Kumbh Mela’ is to commence in 2021 and will end on April 15, 2021, we are of the view that the State should be permitted to demolish the illegal structures by May 31, 2021”.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Uttarakhand government, submitted that the State has undertaken to commence proceedings for demolition of the four illegal structures in Haridwar and will remove them by May 31, 2021.

Counsel appearing for intervenor ‘Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad’ submitted that the structures, which have been made, should not be demolished.

He, however, conceded that the religious structures have been made on the land belonging to the State’s Irrigation Department but added that the said lands were allocated

during ‘Kumbh’ period to the ‘Parishad’.

The bench said, “Be that as it may, allotment, if any, is temporary and any permanent structure could not have been constructed and the same is to be demolished”.

The four religious structures which are to be demolished are of ‘Nirmohi Akhada’, ‘Nirmani Adi Akhada’, ‘Bhaiyadas Digamber Akhada’ and ‘Niranjani Akhada’ at Bairagi camp of Haridwar.