Srinagar- The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh has ordered the local administration to protect Hindu temples and shrines left unattended after the community’s migration in the 1990s in order to help preserve their cultural heritage.
The judgement comes after a significant court case concerning the fate of these neglected religious sites.
The petitioners, Kashmiri Pandits, had expressed concerns about the condition of the shrines. In response, the High Court emphasized the state’s responsibility to safeguard these historical sites.
Specifically, the court mandated the Ganderbal district magistrate to take immediate action to secure and maintain two particular shrines: ‘Asthapan Devraj Bharav’ and the ‘Vidhushe’ shrine.
The order cites the J&K Migrant Immovable Property Act to empower the district magistrate in this task.
The petitioners also brought up the troubling issue of encroachment on the Ganderbal district’s sole Hindu cremation ground.
The court acknowledged the urgency of addressing this concern and directed the removal of any encroachments within eight weeks of serving the order. The court also addressed a disputed lease on one of the shrine properties, declaring it expired and barring any extension.
This judgement establishes a clear path for addressing future grievances. The order allows any party, including the petitioners and those previously involved, to report encroachments to the Ganderbal district magistrate for appropriate action.
DM To Take Over Management Of 2 Anantnag Temples
Stressing the need for their effective and peaceful management, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has put two temples along with their properties under the management of the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag.
“The properties vest in the Deity and, therefore, are required to be managed in an effective and peaceful manner,” a bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice M. A. Chowdhary said while putting two shrines—Shri Raghu Nath Mandir and Nagbal Gautam Nag Temple, Anantnag— along with the properties attached thereto under the management of the Deputy Commissioner (District Magistrate), Anantnag.
With a view to preserve and protect these Temples and their properties, the court directed the District Magistrate, Anantnag to immediately take over the management of both the Temples along with properties “if not already taken over”.
“The District Magistrate shall also ensure that the properties belonging to these Temples are restored to the Temples after following due process of law,” the court said, adding, “The District Magistrate may constitute a committee of responsible officers to manage the affairs of both the Temples and properties attached thereto in an effective manner.”
The court also directed that the Petitioner (Mahant Ganesh Dass Ji) as also the newly impleaded respondent may agitate their rights of management before the Civil Court.
“In any such Suit filed by either the Petitioner or the newly impleaded Respondent, the District Magistrate, Anantnag shall be a necessary party and shall be heard in the matter before passing any Order,” the court said, adding, “The final Decree, if any passed by the Civil Court, will govern the rights of the parties vis-à-vis the properties in question.”
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