The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Uttarakhand government over a plea challenging the appointment of a receiver to manage Maa Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar. The decision by the High Court came during a bail hearing, triggering legal objections over due process.
New Delhi: Today, on July 28, the Supreme Court of India has asked the Uttarakhand government to respond to a plea filed by a “Sevayat” (priest and caretaker) of the Maa Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar.
The plea seeks to stop the implementation of an order that handed over the temple’s management to the Badri Kedar Temple Committee.
A Bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and SVN Bhatti issued notice to the Uttarakhand government and directed it to file a reply within two weeks.
ALSO READ: Banke Bihari Temple Panel Moves Supreme Court Against UP Govt’s ‘Mala Fide’ Ordinance
The court further clarified that
“any decision taken by the Badri Kedar Temple Committee would be subject to outcome of the petition.”
The petitioner in the case is Mahant Bhawani Nandan Giri, a priest associated with the temple, who has challenged an order of the Uttarakhand High Court.
Giri is represented by senior advocate Siddhartha Dave and advocate Ashwani Dubey. The petitioner contends that the high court order was passed without any evidence, without a formal complaint, and without even hearing the affected parties.
According to the petition, the Uttarakhand High Court had earlier constituted a panel including the District Magistrate (DM) and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Haridwar in 2012 to supervise the temple’s affairs.
This panel has been in place since then, and there has been no indication of mismanagement or wrongdoing.
The plea argued,
“The high court passed the directions which are arbitrary, illegal, and perverse and outside the pleadings and without any specific relief that too in violation of principle of natural justice as the petitioner was not heard who is the Sevayat/Chief Trustee.”
The petitioner also said,
“There is neither a single complaint nor the question of mismanagement or misappropriation has ever been flagged out by the committee consisting of DM and SSP, Haridwar appointed by the high court.”
The petition claims that the high court’s directions came unexpectedly while hearing an anticipatory bail plea and not as part of any formal case related to the temple’s management.
The petitioner added,
“The high court did not issue notice and passed the impugned directions,”
The court passed these directions during the hearing of an anticipatory bail plea filed by one Reena Bisht. Bisht claims to be the live-in partner of Rohit Giri, who is the head priest of the temple and the son of the petitioner.
Rohit Giri was arrested by Punjab Police in a separate molestation case on May 14 and remains in judicial custody.
Meanwhile, Rohit Giri’s wife, Geetanjali, had filed an FIR against him, Reena Bisht, and seven others. She alleged that Bisht attempted to run over her son with a vehicle on May 14. The FIR was registered on May 21.
During the hearing of Bisht’s bail plea, the high court made observations about the temple’s internal issues.
It noted that Rohit Giri was living with Bisht even though his divorce proceedings were still pending and that Bisht had given birth to his child in January.
In its order, the high court remarked,
“Trustees of the temple are creating a noxious atmosphere… and there is complete mismanagement in the trust. It cannot be ruled out that there may be misappropriation of donations.”
The petitioner has pointed out that these remarks were not based on any formal inquiry or complaint and that the court acted outside its jurisdiction by handing over the temple’s management to the Badri Kedar Temple Committee.
The Maa Chandi Devi Temple is an ancient temple founded in the 8th century by Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
The plea states that since then, the ancestors of the petitioner have traditionally served as “Sevayats,” performing daily rituals and looking after the management of the temple.
Also Read: Jama Masjid Shamsi Built Over Neelkanth Temple: Court Scheduled To Hear On Jan 18
The petitioner further argued,
“The high court entrusted the work of the temple to the Badri Kedar Temple Kedar ‘erroneously’ without appreciating that the committee consisting of DM and SSP, Haridwar have been working diligently.”
The Supreme Court will now hear the matter after receiving the response from the Uttarakhand government. Until then, any steps taken by the Badri Kedar Temple Committee regarding the temple’s management will remain subject to the final decision in this case.
Click Here to Read More Reports on Temple
