The High Court on Monday dismissed an application by three devotees of the Jing Long Si Temple. The devotees had initiated proceedings to declare that the government's acquisition of the temple site had violated the Constitution.
The three devotees had initiated proceedings on January 16 this year, and the case was heard in chambers on January 29. The Court said the devotees had no standing to make the application, and even if they did, there was no merit in their arguments that the government had acted unconstitutionally.
The temple, at Lorong How Sun in the Bartley area, had been acquired in January 2003 for redevelopment in conjunction with the Circle MRT Line construction.
The temple site and an adjoining state land are slated for high density residential use.
The sites were scheduled for sale under the Government Land Sales Programme in the second half of this year.
In a statement, the Law Ministry said the government will now resume discussion with the temple's trustees and key committee members to facilitate a move - first to a temporary site, and subsequently to a permanent site.
Both these sites are located in nearby Tai Seng Avenue.
The government will also ensure that a Bodhi tree at the current site is preserved. Tender conditions for the site will ensure the developer takes necessary measures to retain the tree. - CNA/ms
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