Shrine board formation at Chulkana in Panipat comes under HC lens

The setting up of Shree Khatu Shyam Baba Shrine Board to manage the affairs of the shrine at Chulkana in Panipat district has run into legal troubles.

The day after the state Cabinet, under the chairmanship of CM Nayab Singh Saini, cleared the Haryana Baba Shree Khatu Shyam Chulkana Dham Shrine Bill, 2025, yesterday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court put the government on notice, directing the authorities concerned “not to make final decision" on the issue. The court listed the matter for May 19.

Shri Shyam Mandir Sewa Samiti, Chulkana Dham, had moved the court, contending that the management and possession of the temple was being taken over by the authorities “without giving any opportunity of hearing” to the samiti.

The court wanted that “on subsequent date of hearting , a specific affidavit shall also be filed by the responsible functionary disclosing whether re-carpeting of the road leading from the GT Road to the temple has been completed or not”.

The Cabinet yesterday passed the Bill for the setting of shrine board with the “view to providing better facilities to the pilgrims and devotees and better management of the assets of the shrine”.

Lakhs of devotees and pilgrims from all over the Haryana and neighbouring states visited the temple every year to pay their obeisance on special religious occasions. Besides, thousands of devotees visit the shrine daily to pay obeisance. Apart from Shree Shyam Baba temple, idols of Lord Hanuman, Lord Krishna, Lord Balram, Lord Shiva Parivar and other gods and goddesses are also established on the premises of the Dham.

In the past several years, the government has already taken over the management of prominent shrines by establishing Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, Panchkula; Shri Mata Sheetla Devi Shrine Board, Gurugram; Shri Kapal Mochan; Shri Badri Narain; Shri Mantra Devi; and Shri Kedar Nath Shrine Board, Yamunanagar.