SC dismisses petitions against excavation, construction around Puri Jagannath temple

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a batch of petitions against excavation and construction work by the Odisha government along the Puri Jagannath temple as part of the Puri Heritage Corridor Project, calling the pleas "frivolous". 

The petitioners alleged that the construction work would damage the heritage site.

A vacation bench of Justices B R Gavai and Hima Kohli rejected the PIL with costs, and said the construction activity being undertaken is necessary in larger public interest. 

The top court said Public Interest Litigation (PIL) other than being in public interest is detrimental to public interest.

The apex court said there has been a mushrooming growth in PILs in the recent past.

It deprecated the practice of filing frivolous PILs and said it is an abuse of law.

The ruling came a day after the apex court reserved its order on the petitions.

The case in the Supreme Court comes at a time when the Orissa High Court is already hearing a plea against construction by the state government along the 800-year-old Puri Jagannath temple. 

Puri residents had moved the High Court alleging that the structural safety of the temple could be in jeopardy if land around the temple were dug up. 

The District Court in Puri is also hearing cases seeking to stop the construction.