GURU SINGH SABHA Vs. STATE OF SIKKIM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The discord between the Petitioners and the Respondents arise out of the allegations made by the Petitioners that, on 16/8/2017, the 'Guru Granth Sahib Ji' and other articles of the Sikh faith, placed in the Gurudwara, constructed on the periphery of the Gurudongmar Lake in North Sikkim, was desecrated by removal from the place of worship, by the Respondent No.4, in connivance with Respondent Nos.2 and 3, without so much as a notice to the Petitioner No.1. That, the holy articles were then abandoned sacrilegiously before the Gurudwara at Chungthang, North Sikkim, thereby depriving the Petitioners of their rights to conduct the religious rituals which were imperative preceding such removal. They also allege removal of the 'Nishan Sahib' which was flying at the same place, by the same Respondents, causing sacrilege to their place and articles of worship.

(2.) Invoking the provisions of Article 25 of the Constitution of India and alleging its violation as also of Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution, the Petitioner No.1 in the Writ Petition, inter alia, seeks the following reliefs;

(3.) Consequent upon the filing of the Petition, by the Petitioner No.1 on 24/8/2017, the Single Bench comprising of the then Hon"ble Chief Justice, vide Order dtd. 13/9/2017, directed all parties to maintain status quo, as existing on 30/8/2017. On 13/6/2018, the same Court ordered that the interim order shall continue and on 24/9/2018 a Learned Single Judge further ordered that the interim Order shall continue till the disposal of the Writ Petition.