Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court is taking initiatives to monitor the state government’s action against illegally constructed religious structures in the state. The high court ordered initiation of suo motu petition for the process on Friday.

The state government is required to take action against illegal construction of temples, churches, mosques, gurudwaras and other religious structures in public places including parks and streets.

The order was issued to the registrar-general of the court by a division bench comprising chief justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and justice HT Narendra Prasad. The bench issued the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition related to a temple built illegally by a group of private individuals in the Police Colony of Rajajinagar. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had earmarked the area to construct a park.

The bench issued the directive when a Supreme Court order, that was passed in 2009, was brought to its notice. According to the order, in the case of union of India vs state of Gujarat, it had directed all state governments to review, case by case, all the existing religious structures constructed illegally in public places. The order had also asked the state governments to frame a policy to remove or relocate or regularise such illegal structures.

The apex court had directed all the states in 2009 that no such illegal construction should be allowed henceforth.

The bench also noticed that the Supreme Court in January had directed the high courts to monitor the implementation of the directives issued.

While requesting the state advocate general to assist the court in the matter, it informed that the hearing of the plea would be held on July 2.