Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand high court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of alleged “unauthorised activities” at Rudrapur’s Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Memorial after a resident raised the issue. Babita Rani, a Rudrapur resident, wrote to Chief Justice G Narendar, alleging that such “disrespectful activities” had been occurring consistently and that the municipal corporation had failed to address them.
She claimed that “certain individuals, under the pretext of religious purposes”, were attempting to encroach upon the memorial by conducting activities daily to assert control over the site. Based on her letter, a petition was filed, and a bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra scheduled the next hearing for April 7.
Rani sought court directions to prohibit political activities such as protests, effigy burning, and demonstrations at the memorial, remove all encroachments, and ensure the site is used exclusively to honour Bhagat Singh
Activities conducted in the name of religion to occupy or encompass the memorial site should be halted forthwith. CCTV cameras should be installed to ensure proper surveillance, and the site should be used solely for activities and national programmes honoring martyrs. Swift action should be taken to proscribe all political, religious, and commercial activities at the memorial site to preserve the memory of the national hero with befitting dignity,” she demanded.
