BANTI GIRI CHELI SHRI LAL GIRI MAHANT VYAS GOOFA, BILASPUR, DISTRICT BILASPUR, HIMACHAL PRADESH Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH THROUGH PRINCIPAL SECRETARY (LAC) TO THE GOVERNMENT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA,

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD and gone through the record.

(2.) Petitioner is aggrieved by Notification dated 6th March, 2007, Annexure P -2, whereby a Temple, known as Mahant Ved Vyas Goofa, Bilaspur, has been taken over, under Section 29(1) of the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984. Petitioner's case is that she is Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment the Mahant of the Temple and has the right to worship in the Temple. It is also her case that the Temple had been taken over, without affording any opportunity of being heard to her. Also, it is stated that there is no income from the Temple and, therefore, there is hardly any need for taking over the same. So, the petitioner has sought the quashing of the aforesaid Notification Annexure P -2.

(3.) RESPONDENTS , in their reply, have stated that the Temple is of historical importance and religious sentiments of the people of the area are attached with the Temple. It is also alleged that the petitioner had not been spending even a penny on the upkeep and maintenance of the Temple and it is for this reason that it has been taken over. It is denied that the petitioner is the Mahant of the Temple. It is alleged that she is only Wahe -Tamam.