In a recent and controversial move, the Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait has come under fire for removing a Hanuman temple from the premises of his official residence. This action has drawn criticism from the Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association, which has now formally sought intervention from the Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna.
The temple in question has been a longstanding fixture within the official residence, frequented by numerous former Chief Justices, such as Justices SA Bobde, AM Khanwilkar, and Hemant Gupta—all of whom were later elevated to the Supreme Court. The temple has been a place of worship not only for the residents of the bungalow but also for the employees working there. The letter from the Bar Association highlights that even Muslim Chief Justices like Justice Rafat Alam and Rafiq Ahmed had previously respected the presence of the temple and raised no objections.
The bar association, in their letter to the Chief Justice of India, argues that the temple, being part of a government property, should not have been demolished without governmental permission or a statutory order. They describe the removal of the temple as an “insult to the believers of Sanatan Dharma.”
The issue has escalated following a separate complaint from lawyer Ravindra Nath Tripathi, who has also petitioned several high-level officials including the President, the Prime Minister, and the Union Law Minister for action against Chief Justice Kait. Tripathi’s complaint points out that the temple has been a historical part of the compound that predates Justice Kait’s residency and that its removal reflects poorly on the respect for shared religious spaces.
The matter has spurred further legal action, with another lawyer drawing inspiration from Justice Kait’s decision to file a public interest litigation (PIL) for the removal of temples from police stations across the state. Meanwhile, Tripathi seeks an inquiry against Justice Kait, including possible criminal action and his transfer.
The president of the Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association, Dhanya Kumar Jain, expressed his concerns, suggesting that the removal might be tied to Justice Kait’s personal beliefs, as he follows Buddhism. Jain emphasized that while it is acceptable for an individual to follow any religion, the unilateral decision to remove a temple from a government property where many have prayed is questionable.
