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Disposing of a plea filed by shopkeepers seeking rehabilitation/accommodation and compensation for loss of their shops/business due to the proposed Ram Janmabhoomi Road Widening project, Allahabad High Court has granted them the liberty to approach District Magistrate, Ayodhya with their grievance.

The matter was heard before the division bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Abdul Moin. Bench noted, “We feel it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with the liberty to the petitioners to approach the District Magistrate, Ayodhya.”

Court also said that in case the petitioners prefer any representation to the District Magistrate, Ayodhya, then after giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners, the DM will be expected to expeditiously decide the same in accordance with law.

Noting the abovesaid, court disposed of the plea accordingly.

The plea had been filed seeking court’s direction to provide rehabilitation/accommodation for shops to the petitioners due to the proposed construction of new road from the main road to Sri Ram Janma Bhoomi via Shringar Hat Hanuman Gadhi.

The petitioners had also prayed for court’s directions for reasonable compensation against their shops in view of their commercial value.

The widening of Sahadatganj-Nayaghat main road and Shringarhat-Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Road is under process. The road leading to Ram Janmabhoomi is to be made 13 meters wide, for which survey has also been done in the past.

Reportedly, it is estimated that as soon as the Ram temple is built, more than one lakh devotees will reach Ayodhya every day. In such a situation, work is going on on various schemes to develop Ayodhya from the point of view of tourism. Under this, widening of the main road of Ramnagari Sahadatganj-Ayodhya and Shringarhat-Ramjanmabhoomi road is proposed.

Court recently disposed of another plea relating to the project in similar fashion. That plea had sought payment of compensation to the shopkeepers in respect to their shops being included in the extension/widening of City Ayodhya to nayaghat main road.

The petitioner shopkeepers had also sought rehabilitation in view of the Right to Fair Compensation & Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act, 2013.

Disposing of that matter, the Bench of Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Abdul Moin too had granted liberty to the petitioners to approach the District Magistrate, Ayodhya to make their representation.

Court has also added that if such representation is made before the DM, he would be expected to decide the same expeditiously.

Case Title: Kaushalya Devi & Ors v. State Of U.P.Thru Prin./Addl.Chief Secy.Revenue Lko & Ors.