The council decided to sell the site to UKIM on 10 February despite the Bharat Hindu Samaj (BHS) being an existing tenant
LONDON: Peterborough City Council argued in the High Court on Monday that its decision to sell a complex including a Hindu temple to an Islamic society to redevelop it as a mosque and Islamic center is “not unlawful”.Catherine Rowlands, who represents the council, said the fact that the Hindu community would lose the only temple it had in a 35-mile radius did not make the decision to sell the New England complex to the UK Islamic Mission (UKIM) – which plans to build a Khadija Mosque there – illegal, nor was it a breach of the public sector equality duty.“Protected characteristics (such as the Hindu faith) should be taken into account when arriving at a decision, but do not dictate the decision,” Rowlands said, noting that Hindus are protected by lease rights until the site is redeveloped, at which point they will be evicted.
“The council’s position is that the Hindu community is valued and we want them to stay,” she said. This sparked loud laughter from the Hindus in the public gallery, some of whom wore orange T-shirts with the words “Jai Shri Ram” written on them. A Hindu coach from Peterborough came and filled the crowded courtroom.“Peterborough is a big place – there are a lot of other buildings,” Rowlands said as Hindus in the public gallery shook their heads.
“The council has made offers for alternative buildings.”Judge Morris questioned why the council would do this if UKIM had set a fundraising target of 2035. “It could happen next week,” Rowlands said. “They might win the lottery.”The council decided to sell the site to UKIM on February 10 even though the Bharat Hindu Samaj (BHS) is an existing tenant who has leased Unit 6 since 1986 and has been negotiating to buy the building for a decade.
BHS is seeking a judicial review of the decision and is calling on the court to overturn it.UKIM offered £1.4 million (about Rs 18 crore) for the site and provided evidence of £5.4 million (roughly Rs 69.2 crore) in cash. The Bharat Hindu Samaj has offered £900,000 (Rs 11.5 lakh crore) plus £504,000 (Rs 6.4 lakh crore) in “social value” for its community services.“Peterborough Council is tough. We need the money,” Rowlands said.
