Document Fragment View

Matching Fragments

W.P.(PIL) No. 231 of 2025.

1) This Public Interest Litigation has been filed by the petitioner, Jyot, a religious trust registered in Ahmedabad, Gujrat bearing registration no. E-19029 (Trust) for protecting the sanctity of the Parasnath Hill ("Hill") in the Giridih District of the State Jharkhand.

2) According to the petitioner, Parasnath Hill is one of the most prominent and significant places of worship and is also an essential and integral part of the Jain religion; it is to Jainism, what Ayodhya - Ram Janma Bhoomi is to Hindus, Bodh Gaya to Budhists, the Golden Temple to the Sikhs, Mecca to Muslims and the Vatican to Catholic Christians; and since times immemorial, persons professing Jainism have been worshipping the entire Parasnath Hill as a most sacred and sanctified place of worship.

The Office Memorandum dt.02.01.2023 specifically directs the State Government to strictly enforce the ban on consumption of non- vegetarian food items on the Parasnath Hill. If such schools and Anganwadis are located on the Parasnath Hill, consumption of non vegetarian food such as eggs cannot be permitted therein.

37) In the counter affidavit filed by the Dy. Commissioner, Giridih and the Superintendent of Police, Giridih however it is sought to be projected

-15 of 20- W.P. (PIL) No. 231 of 2025 as if the Parasnath Hill and the Parasnath Eco sensitive zone are one and the same. It is stated that in the Eco Sensitive Zone of 25 km, there are a large number of habitations in the Parasnath Eco Sensitive Zone, that there are twenty two villages with 1500 raiyats of whom 250 raiyats belong to the Scheduled Tribe community, and that there are several schools and 24 Anganwadi centers there.

Also Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and (Section 28) and Rule 14 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 restrict the sacrifice and cruelty of animals.

Thus there is a legal framework in force banning hunting and restricting animal sacrifice. 

                                  -17 of 20-                W.P. (PIL) No. 231 of 2025
 44)     Coming to existence of illegal construction on the Parasnath Hill,

at paragraph 15 and 16 of their Counter affidavit dt. 17.02.2025, Respondents 4 and 5 have stated that the authorities have issued various notices to shop and business owners from time to time to remove encroachments on Parasnath Hill as well as the road to Parasnath Hill. ( pp.9,10).

(ii) the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Giridih is directed to visit the Parasnath Hill after issuing notice to the petitioner and to the respondents for purpose of (i) ascertaining whether schools/anganwadis exist on the Parasnath Hill and whether any mining activities are being conducted on it; (ii) how many structures have been erected on the Parasnath Hill and

-19 of 20- W.P. (PIL) No. 231 of 2025 what is their nature (commercial or residential; and Government /Private);and