Sri Vijaya Puram | January 28, 2026
Tarun Karthick
Councillor, Ward No. 02, Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, and Chairperson of the Sub-Committee for Public Health and Sanitation, Mr. R. Someswara Rao, has raised strong objections to Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council’s tender for running a bar and restaurant in premises located within a Hindu graveyard at Anarkali, Ward No. 03, citing concerns over religious sanctity and public sentiment.
In a representation submitted to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Rao stated that the Hindu graveyard at Anarkali has been traditionally used by Hindu communities residing in adjoining municipal wards for performing last rites and related religious rituals for several decades. He said the graveyard holds deep religious, cultural and emotional significance for the community.
Mr. Rao informed that certain rooms were constructed within the graveyard premises under the Smart City project. He recalled that when he had earlier objected to the construction, the Officer-in-Charge of the Smart City project – the Superintending Engineer of Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council (SVPMC), had assured him that revenue generated from these rooms would be utilised exclusively for the maintenance and development of the graveyard, including facilities such as rain sheds, seating arrangements and drinking water. He was also informed that a Graveyard Committee would be constituted to oversee the upkeep of the site.
Based on these assurances and in the larger interest of proper maintenance of the graveyard, Mr. Rao said he had withdrawn his earlier objection and had communicated the same to the Lieutenant Governor. Copies of his previous correspondence and relevant tender documents were enclosed with the representation.
However, the Councillor stated that it has now come to his notice that the tender for the constructed rooms is proposed to be floated for the purpose of running a bar and restaurant. He described the proposal as wholly inappropriate, stating that a graveyard is a sacred place meant for peace, prayer and remembrance of the departed.
He further submitted that the operation of a bar and restaurant within or in close proximity to a graveyard would deeply hurt religious sentiments and would be unacceptable, irrespective of whether the burial ground belongs to the Hindu, Muslim or Christian community.
Mr. Rao has urged the Lieutenant Governor to intervene immediately to stop the proposed tender and ensure that the rooms are utilised only for purposes that are in harmony with the sanctity of the graveyard and the sentiments of the public. He also mentioned that members of the public had expressed readiness to stage a protest if the issue was not resolved, while appealing for administrative action to avoid such a situation.
Copies of the representation have also been marked to the State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
