DAMODAR L. BHAT Vs. RAMNATH DAMODAR SAUNSTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner claims to be a regularly appointed priest of a Temple managed by the respondent no.1. He filed a representation before the Mamlatdar/Administrator of Devalayas under the Devasthan Regulations, contending that he was wrongly removed from his position as the priest in the temple in the absence of any written order, merely orally by the respondent no.1 and that the said action of the respondent no.1 deserves to be set aside. The petitioner sought a direction to the respondent no.1 and its office bearers to reinstate him in service with all consequential benefits.

(2.) The petitioner claims to be residing in a premises of the respondent no.1 Saunsthan near the temple in a particular building. On this basis, the petitioner moved an application for interim reliefs seeking stay of termination of his services, an order restraining respondent no.1 from interfering with his right to perform religious duties in the temple, a further direction to respondent no.1 restraining it from disconnecting electricity and water supply to the premises in his possession and an order restraining the respondent no.1 from evicting the petitioner from the premises, during the pendency of the representation before the Mamlatdar/ Administrator.

(3.) The respondents vehemently opposed the application for interim reliefs, contending that the petitioner was kept in service of the temple on temporary and irregular basis, as and when required by the head priest. It was further contended that the accommodation provided to the petitioner was not connected with the said service temporarily availed and therefore, the application for interim reliefs ought to be rejected.