HC asks govt to implement order on installing new statues at vandalised parks

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the state government to implement its earlier order for installation of new statues of Gautam Buddha and Mahavir, replacing the statues which were damaged by a mob in two parks in Lucknow last month.

In a hearing on a PIL on August 29, the bench comprising Justices Umanath Singh and V K Dixit had directed the state government to instal new statues. On Wednesday, the court was informed by the petitioner's counsel H S Jain that new statues had not been installed so far and the statue of Gautam Buddha had been only repaired. The bench had summoned the Principal Secretary, Home, and Lucknow district magistrate on Thursday. Both the officers appeared in the court and informed the bench that the statue of Gautam Buddha had only minor scratches and had been repaired. The officers also informed the court that the Lucknow Divisional Commissioner was conducting an inquiry into the incident.

"The court today directed to ensure compliance of its earlier order and safeguard the statues of Gautam Buddha and Mahavir'', said Bulbul Godiyal, Additional Advocate General, who argued on behalf of the state government.

The court has directed the government to submit reports of the Divisional Commissioner's inquiry and action taken on that in the next two weeks and listed the case for hearing on September 28. "The court was informed today that new statues have not been installed and Buddha's statue was repaired only," said H S Jain, petitioner's counsel. The statues had been damaged allegedly by a mob during vandalism in Lucknow on August 17.

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