Andhra Pradesh High Court Dismisses PIL on Rama Temple Construction in Akiveedu

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has declined to entertain a public interest litigation seeking a halt to the construction of a Rama temple in Pedapeta village, located in Akiveedu mandal of West Godavari district.

A division bench led by Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice N Jayasurya observed that a writ petition concerning the same dispute is already pending before a single-judge bench. The court emphasized that since notices have been issued in the earlier petition, any grievances regarding violations of interim or final orders can be pursued through appropriate legal remedies, including contempt proceedings.

The bench made it clear that filing a separate PIL on an identical matter was not a suitable course of action. It noted that both the writ petitioner and the PIL petitioner belong to the same locality and have raised similar concerns alleging that the temple construction lacks necessary approvals. In such a situation, parallel adjudication would only lead to duplication of proceedings.

Allowing procedural relief, the court granted liberty to the PIL petitioner to implead themselves in the ongoing writ case and present their arguments before the single judge. With this direction, the PIL was disposed of.

During the hearing, the bench also expressed displeasure when Assembly Deputy Speaker Kanumuru Raghurama Krishna Raju attempted to directly address the court, remarking that such conduct was inappropriate in judicial proceedings.

The petition, filed by a resident of Pedapeta, alleged that the Rama temple is being constructed on a small parcel of government poramboke land without obtaining required permissions, raising concerns over compliance with legal norms and established judicial precedents regarding unauthorized religious structures on public land.