The High Court has directed the government to maintain the status quo of Bhagya Lakshmi temple adjacent to Charminar as it was before October 31 and no alterations or expansions should take place. It may be recalled that a corporator and others filed a public interest litigations (PILs) with the Andhra Pradesh High Court stating that construction works were going on for expanding Bhagya Lakshmi temple by drilling holes into the heritage structure Charminar. The temple authorities have,howerver, said that they made no drillings but made use of the already existing holes to insert sticks for setting up a shed in view of Dasara festival. The court even posted the next hearing on this petition to another four weeks.

The VHP, which supported the temple committee, tried to take out a procession on November 4 from Kothi area to Charminar. Although this procession was cancelled after the police commissioner Anurag Sharma persuaded the activists to cancel it, a large number of people from two different groups gathered at Charminar. Some miscreants even pelted stones at public and private properties.  The police commissioner has said that the situation on Monday was under the control.

(AW Phani)