More than 600 illegal religious places obstructing or hindering public places including roads and streets have been removed from across the state, including Ahmedabad city in the past two months.

From July 1 to September 10, as many as 604 such illegal places of worship were removed in Gujarat. In which 318 religious places were in district areas and 286 structures were in municipal corporation areas.

Of these, 87 religious places were shifted to other places and six structures were regularised on public streets, in parks and other places.

The information was provided by the state government to Gujarat High Court in a suo moto public interest writ regarding the removal of unauthorised religious places at public places and roads in the state. A bench of Chief Justice Sunita Aggarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi took the government’s report on record.

Further, the High Court directed the state government and the authorities concerned to continue the process of identifying and removing the unauthorised places of worship on public roads and streets and submit a progress report.

The High Court also directed the secretary of the Home department to submit an affidavit with details on a personal basis and further investigation in the case.

The state government had issued a guideline on April 19, 2024, in which the local authorities were directed to form the committees within 10 days. 

Nodal officers have also been appointed by the above committees for effective implementation of these guidelines.

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