New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Uttarakhand government on a petition filed by the ‘sevayat’ of Maa Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar. The petition requested a stay on the order directing the Badri Kedar Temple Committee to appoint a receiver to oversee the management of the temple. Sevayat refers to priests who are actively involved in the daily rituals and management of temples.
The case was heard by a bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice SVN Bhatti. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave and advocate Ashwini Dubey represented the petitioner Mahant Bhavani Nandan Giri of Maa Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar.
Notice issued to Uttarakhand government
Maa Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar was established in the eighth century by Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya and since then, as stated, the ancestors of the petitioner have been managing and taking care of it as a sevayat. During the hearing today, the bench said that any decision taken by the Badri Kedar Temple Committee would be subject to the decision of the petition and issued a notice to the Uttarakhand government. The Supreme Court has sought a response from the state government within two weeks.
Control of the temple handed over to a committee
The petitioner has said in his petition that the Uttarakhand High Court handed over the control of the temple to a committee without any evidence and complaint, whereas the High Court had constituted a committee of Haridwar DM and SSP in 2012 itself. It has been argued that the direction to appoint a receiver was given during the hearing of the anticipatory bail petition of an accused in a criminal case.
Claim of being the live-in partner of the head priest of the temple
The petitioner argued that there is no complaint of mismanagement or embezzlement, which has been marked by the High Court-appointed committee of Haridwar DM and SSP. The court passed this order while hearing the anticipatory bail petition filed by a woman who claimed to be the live-in partner of the head priest of the temple, Rohit Giri.
Rohit’s wife had filed an FIR against her husband, the woman and seven others on May 21, alleging that the woman had tried to run over her son with a car on May 14. The same day, Rohit was arrested by the Punjab Police in a separate molestation case and is currently in judicial custody.
The high court found that Rohit was living with the woman while his divorce proceedings were pending, and she gave birth to their child in January.
