The Sevayat (priest-trustee) of the historic Maa Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar has approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Uttarakhand High Court’s order directing the Badri Kedar Temple Committee to take over the temple’s management through a court-appointed receiver.
In his Special Leave Petition (SLP), Mahant Bhawani Nandan Giri challenged the High Court’s directions, terming them arbitrary and passed without any notice or hearing. Filed through advocate Ashwani Dubey, the plea contends that the order violates the principles of natural justice and exceeds the scope of the bail petition in which it was issued.
The High Court had passed the order while hearing an anticipatory bail plea filed by Reena Bisht, who claimed to be in a live-in relationship with Rohit Giri, the head priest of the temple. Giri’s wife, Geetanjali, had lodged an FIR on May 21 against him, Bisht, and seven others, alleging an attempt to run over her son. On the same day, Giri was arrested by Punjab Police in a separate molestation case and remains in judicial custody.
Citing ongoing disputes and allegations of mismanagement, the High Court remarked that the temple trustees were fostering a “noxious atmosphere” and hinted at possible misappropriation of donations. It then handed over oversight of the temple to the Badri Kedar Temple Committee, bypassing an earlier panel consisting of the Haridwar District Magistrate and SSP, which had been overseeing the temple since 2012.
Giri’s petition strongly disputes the High Court’s rationale, stating there has been no complaint or evidence of mismanagement presented by the existing oversight panel. “The directions were passed in para numbers 15 to 18 of the order, completely outside the pleadings and without any relief sought in that regard,” the plea states.
The petitioner further highlighted the temple’s historic significance, claiming that it was established in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya and has since been maintained by his ancestors.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter next week.
