Hindu Temples: What Happened to Them v2.c19.s1.21

v2.c19.s1.21

The Hindus of Sidhpur objected to the covering of the temple remains that had been uncovered. Tension mounted in the town as reports spread that the Survey was filling up the trenches. Upto the 14th March, 1980, a major part of the complex was covered and the northern compound wall was constructed over some length but then the trouble started and the labourers refused to work.²⁴ On March 15, 1980, the Puratatva Sanskrutik Abhyas and Sansodhan Mandal, an organisation formed by some Hindus of Sidhpur in January, 1980, filed a Civil Application No. 644 of 1980 against the Union of India and Mr. S.R. Rao, Superintending Archaeologist. Their prayer is mainly that the excavated area in the courtyard of the Masjid should not be filled up and that *status quo* should be maintained in the excavated area.²⁵ The High Court granted a stay and the Archaeological Survey could not proceed further with the construction of the compound wall.