The Delhi High Court directed the Jain Sabha Dharmarth Trust to keep Devi Padmavati’s idol seat vacant post-renovation. The Court criticized the trial court’s dismissal and emphasized that “matters of faith cannot be scorned.”
New Delhi: On May 10, The Delhi High Court has recently given an important order in a religious dispute involving the Jain Sabha Dharmarth Trust and the idol of Devi Padmavati.
This matter is related to a Jain temple located in Delhi where the idol of Devi Padmavati had been placed in the sanctum sanctorum (garbhgrah) since 1978.
In 2018, during the renovation of the temple, all the idols including that of Devi Padmavati were moved to a separate room for safekeeping.
However, after the renovation was completed, while other idols were returned to their original seats, the idol of Devi Padmavati was not put back.
Instead, the Jain Sabha Dharmarth Trust was reportedly planning to place the idol of another Tirthankara in that spot.
This led to a legal case being filed in the name of Devi Padmavati through her follower Ajay Jain. The main request in the case was that the idol should be returned to its original place in the temple.
But the trial court dismissed the suit, reasoning that
“God is omnipresent and prayers can be offered to an idol at any place, whether at the ‘garbhgrah’ (sanctum sanctorum) or at any other place in the temple.”
The case was then taken to the Delhi High Court. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani strongly disagreed with the way the trial court had handled the issue.
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He said the trial court had taken a “very flippant view of the matter” and dismissed the case without properly considering the rights of the deity, even though the idol had been in the temple for more than 40 years.
The Court noted:
“This court is of the prima-facie view that the learned trial court has taken a very flippant view of the matter, in proceeding to dismiss the suit summarily, without appreciating that though there is no cavil with the proposition that God is omnipresent, that does not in itself answer the cause of action canvassed in the suit, namely why the appellant’s idol, which is claimed to have been positioned and worshipped in the temple for decades, should have been removed from there post the renovation.”
The judge also remarked,
“Matters of faith cannot be scorned at in this manner.” According to the Court, the sentiments of devotees and the consistent worship of the idol for so many years should not have been ignored.
As a temporary measure, the Delhi High Court has ordered the Trust to leave the original seat of Devi Padmavati’s idol vacant in the sanctum sanctorum.
At the same time, the idol will remain in the room where it is currently kept, and all rituals and worship practices must continue without any interruption.
The Court directed,
“In these circumstances, the respondent is directed to ensure that one ‘seat’ is left vacant for the appellant’s idol in the sanctum-sanctorum; and the appellant’s idol continues to remain in the temporary room and all requisite rituals are performed in relation to the idol, till the next date of hearing before this court.”
This case highlights the importance of respecting religious faith and long-standing worship traditions. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for August 28.
Advocates Sanyam Khetarpal, Prakriti Anand, and Lisa Sankrit represented the deity, while Advocates Neha Khanduri and Komal Sharma appeared on behalf of the Jain Sabha Dharmarth Trust.
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