1. Gauhati High Court instructs Assam government to address PIL against Kamakhya Temple Access Corridor.
2. Concerns raised in the petition include the absence of approvals from the Department of Archaeology.
3. PIL filed by devotees demands transparency and protection of historical structures around the temple.
Guwahati, April 03: The Gauhati High Court directs the Assam government to respond to a PIL opposing the construction of the ‘Maa Kamakhya Temple Access Corridor’ in Assam. The petition raises concerns over the lack of approvals from the Department of Archaeology.
Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam grant a two-week window for the state government to submit its response. Senior government advocate D Nath and assisting advocate general D Saikia accept the notice on behalf of the state.
The petition, filed by devotee Gitika Bhattacharya and 12 others, seeks transparency in the corridor’s construction to ensure it won’t damage the temple’s ancient structures, including the ‘Dasa Mahavidyas’ and the sacred Nilachal Hill.
The plea emphasizes the importance of obtaining necessary approvals under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, to protect historically significant monuments dating back over 2,000 years.
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Petitioners, devotees of ‘Maa Kamakhya,’ the ‘Dasa Mahavidyas,’ and Nilachal Hill, assert their right to religious worship and express concerns over potential harm to the site’s sanctity.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rs 498 crore Kamakhya corridor project as a tourism gateway to the Northeast, the PIL underscores the need to balance development with the preservation of cultural and archaeological heritage.
