Bhubaneswar, Aug. 4 -- The Orissa High Court has directed maintenance of status quo on government construction activities within the protected zone of the Grameswar Temple in Puri district, while seeking compliance reports from the State government and Archaeological Survey of India on alleged violations of the Odisha Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1956.
Justice B.P. Routray passed the interim order while hearing a petition filed by Sagar Ranjan Biswal, who contended that the Grameswar Temple, located under Kakatpur block, is a protected monument under the 1956 Act.
The petitioner pointed out that government agencies had commenced construction of the two facilities within a 100-metre radius of the temple despite a prohibitory order i...