SHILLONG: A major administrative and legal controversy has erupted at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Mawdiangdiang, Shillong, after allegations surfaced of unauthorized temple construction on government land designated strictly for administrative purposes.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism for breaching land-use regulations and violating Supreme Court guidelines on the use of public property for religious activities.
The issue escalated when a delegation from the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Shillong Mihngi Circle, led by Assistant Organising Secretary Jeremiah Pohthmi, confronted the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the CBI in a formal meeting.
Discussions quickly turned heated when authorities failed to provide satisfactory answers regarding the temple’s construction. Asserting that the project violated both local and national legal standards, KSU members proceeded to lock down the temple structure on the premises to halt further work.
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Following the lockdown, the KSU submitted a detailed letter of objection to the CBI. In it, the union expressed disappointment over what they described as a breach of trust, recalling prior assurances from CBI officials that no religious structures would be permitted inside the government compound. Despite these assurances, the union discovered that construction had quietly resumed and was nearing completion, prompting their direct intervention.
At the heart of the dispute is the legal status of the land: classified as Government Revenue Land, allotted solely for official administrative use. The KSU argued that the CBI has no legal authority to divert such land for religious purposes, emphasizing that, as India’s premier investigative agency, the CBI is expected to uphold and respect the laws governing public property.
The union further cited Supreme Court rulings that prohibit the use of public and government lands for unauthorized religious structures, mandating strict adherence to the original purpose of land allotment.
The KSU maintained that construction of a temple on administrative grounds is a clear violation of these legal precedents.
The KSU has issued a one-week ultimatum to the CBI administration, demanding the complete demolition and removal of the unauthorized temple structure.
Their demands include an immediate halt to all construction, withdrawal of any proposals for future religious structures on the site, strict adherence to land allotment rules, and respect for previous CBI commitments. The union warned that if the structure is not removed within the stipulated timeframe, they will be compelled to undertake stricter measures.
(4FrontMedia news)
