Govt takes over mgmt of Chandi Devi temple

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Panchkula, November 22

The Haryana Government today decided to take over the management of the ancient Shri Mata Chandi Devi Temple in Chandimandir, Panchkula. The management of the temple would be administered under Article 2 (h) of the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Act, 1991.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today.

The decision to take over the management of the temple was taken in the wake of numerous complaints against the administration, management and governance of the temple by the current group of priests, who acquired the temple after the death of a former priest who had executed a will in favour of Pujari Surat Giri and his successors.

Sufficient offerings are made in cash and kind in the temple by devotees, but little amount is being spent on its upkeep or providing facilities to pilgrims in or around the temple.

On the basis of the complaints, even a first information report (FIR) was registered. Khair trees were also being sold without any permission and trees were being cut in contravention of government instructions regarding cutting of trees.

It was observed from the perusal of the file that according to earlier Jamabandi for 1936-37, the land was owned by the gram panchayat, Chandimandir, and the present land was given to the temple by the sarpanch and other panches of the panchayat.

The temple, claimed to be connected with the Pandavas and the state capital of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, has derived its name from Chandimandir.

Land to be transferred

The Haryana Cabinet has decided to transfer the land measuring over 2 acres, along with buildings of the Shivalik Development Board, Morni, in Panchkula district to the Technical Education Department free of cost. At present, the building is being used as a government polytechnic for women in Morni, and several training courses have been running there since August 2008.