The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) has intervened to address administrative concerns over the management of the ancient Buddheshwar Mahadev Temple in Lucknow. A bench of Justices Sangeeta Chandra and Brij Raj Singh issued directions following a writ petition filed by the deity, represented by its priest Ramu Ji, seeking to reopen two key facilities within the temple complex—Sita Rasoi and Kanwar Bhawan—which had been locked by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) despite previous court orders.
The petition raised multiple grievances, notably that the SDM, acting on an alleged unauthorized claim to custodianship after the murder of the prior priest around 1999–2000, had arbitrarily locked the premises. The petitioner, belonging to a custodial family serving the temple for generations, argued that this action disrupted important religious and community functions—especially during the holy month of Savan, when tens of thousands of devotees visit the temple. He contended these actions violated his fundamental rights under Articles 25, 26, and 14 of the Constitution.
In response, the Standing Counsel argued that the petitioner lacked authenticity, claiming he could not have been the priest at the time of the earlier incident. Furthermore, it was revealed that the former Mahant’s disciple, Mahant Leelapuri, who still resides at the temple, had filed a complaint regarding interference in temple affairs, leading the administration to vest custodianship in the SDM via an order in July 2000. The advocates clarified that the Sita Rasoi was a storage facility used during communal meals and was under the Area Lekhpal's control, while the Kanwar Bhawan, constructed by the Tourism Department, had been locked due to misuse—though pilgrims (Kanwars) continued to be allowed to stay there.
The court, acknowledging these facts, observed that the temple itself had not been locked and religious ceremonies remained undisturbed. Despite deferring detailed judgments on the SDM’s conduct, the bench opined that an ancient and widely revered temple deserves stable and transparent administration.
Consequently, the High Court directed that the Principal Secretary of the Department of Religious Affairs, Uttar Pradesh, be impleaded as a party in the case. Authorities were instructed to submit a comprehensive proposal on regulating the temple’s administration, involving public-minded individuals and devotees, before the next court hearing. Additionally, the SDM was tasked with submitting a report to the District Magistrate of Lucknow, who would then forward the matter to the Religious Affairs Secretary to facilitate policy formulation.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on September 23, 2025, allowing the court to assess the administration’s proposed governance structure.
0 Comments
Thank you for your response. It will help us to improve in the future.