The Supreme Court Wednesday softened its stand on the Uttar Pradesh government building a memorial to Dalit leaders in Lucknow’s sprawling Ambedkar park.
A bench of Justice H.S. Bedi and Justice A.K. Patnaik indicated that it will consider sending the lawsuit challenging the erection of Dalit leaders’ statues in Ambedkar park back to the Allahabad High Court as per the state government’s plea.
The bench also showed willingness to allow the state government to take up the work of cleaning and removing the debris from the park as per the government’s plea, but the bench sought a formal application to consider it.
The bench also indicated that it might stop the contempt to court proceedings launched against the state’s Chief Secretary Atul Gupta for violating the apex court’s Sep 8 order to halt forthwith all further construction and maintenance work at various memorial sites of Dalit leaders in Lucknow.
“As we are inclined to send back the matter to the high court, some interim arrangement is to be made with respect to the properties in dispute. State government counsel Harish Salve states that he will file an affidavit of the officiating chief secretary on behalf of the state of Uttar Pradesh that would indicate as to what exactly is required towards maintenance, repair and cleaning so that appropriate orders can be passed by this court,” the bench said in a brief order Wednesday.
It then adjourned the matter for hearing Thursday
