The Delhi High Court has wondered whether Gods in temples constructed on encroached lands/localities (without obtaining formal permission for construction) would listen to the prayers of devotees thronging those temples.

The strange query by the Delhi High Court came while taking up the issue of encroachment of pavement by a 108-feet statue of Lord Hanuman erected by the locals at Karol Bagh, New Delhi. The statue, which nevertheless looked majestic, caused traffic jams thus creating trouble to pedestrians as well as vehicle-users.

A non-governmental organization (NGO) had moved the Court with the request that the encroached structure and other encroachments surrounding it be removed at once in public interest. A Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Geeta Mittal and Justice Harishankar took up the NGO’s request for removing the encroachments.

During interrogation, the Bench wondered whether prayers by the people to Gods would be heeded by those Gods at temples constructed illegally and on encroached lands. “What about sanctity of such temples?” the Court asked before passing orders directing local civic authorities to remove the statue and other encroachments near it to ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic.