Ranchi, May 6: Jharkhand High Court today direc- ted the East Singhbhum district administration to take immediate steps to free the premises of two ancient temples in Adityapur of encroachers.

A division bench of Chief Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra and Justice D.K. Sinha also directed the state to construct a boundary wall around the temple, if required, to keep encroachers away.

In a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Mahesh Khariwal, it was said that encroachment and unwanted constructions on the premises of the two anci- ent temples of Sitala and Hanuman in Adityapur had become a common scene, which was affecting the environment of the place.

Khariwal in his petition had said that the temples were occupied by Bangladeshi immigrants, who were living on the premises.

The petitioner also said that the place had become dirty and the people, mostly illegal immigrants, were polluting the environment. They drank and littered the area, the PIL said.

The temple is thronged by a large number of pilgrims and devotees, who come from far-off places, and they have to go through a harrowing time due to these illegal immigrants, Khariwal said in the litigation.

They consume alcohol and other intoxicants inside the temple premises, the PIL said. The encroachers also consumed meat and fish and littered the temple premises which made the place stink, the petitioner said.

The court had earlier directed the state to enquire into the matter and furnish an affidavit with regards to the current status of encroachment on the temple premises.

The bench today obser-ved that the encroachers should be removed at the earliest and the premises made free of any unwanted constructions for the benefit of devotees.