HLP chief to oppose temple takeover

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 26

The stage seems to be set for a legal battle between Maheshwar Singh, the scion of the Kullu royal family, and the government over the Cabinet’s decision to take over the Raghunath temple in Kullu.

“I will fight for my right in the court of law as nobody has the right to take over a private property. The temple is part of my house,” said Maheshwar, who is the sitting Himachal Lokhit MLA from Kullu. Ironically, his younger brother Karan Singh, who is the Ayurveda Minister, was part of the Cabinet which took the decision yesterday. The two are pitted against each other and are on the opposite sides of the political spectrum.

It is learnt that the notification in this regard was issued today. The temple will be taken over under the Himachal Pradesh Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984. There are more than three dozen government-managed temples.

The issue had been under the consideration of the government for some time now, but it was at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that the final decision was taken. “This is not the first time that attempts to take over our private temple has been made as a similar move was initiated way back in 1942 during my grandfather’s time,” said Maheshwar. He performs all prayers and leads the procession during the Kullu Dasehra as Lord Raghunath is the main deity of the valley.

Maheshwar today collected all records pertaining to the temple and also sought recommendations from Kullu Deputy Commissioner Hans Raj Chauhan. He is now likely to collect the documents by taking the RTI route. “The plea being given by some that donations are given to the temple does not mean that it is a public temple. Those who make offerings do it out of will and this does not make it a public temple,” said Maheshwar.

It was following the theft of the antique idols of Lord Raghunath and Goddess Sita in December 2014 that concerns were expressed over the safety and security of the priceless idols and other valuables. The idols stolen by a Nepalese were later recovered from Bajaura in Kullu on the basis of inputs given by the theft when he was apprehended in Nepal. Prior to this, thieves had tried to decamp with the idols.