Supreme Court Mandates Fresh Inquiry into Haridwar's Maa Chandi Devi Temple Trust Management

The Supreme Court has ordered a thorough investigation by the District Collector of Haridwar into the management practices of the Maa Chandi Devi Temple Trust. A bench comprised of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and SVN Bhatti has tasked the collector with crafting a detailed report for the High Court within six weeks.

The current interim management arrangement, under the oversight of the Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), remains intact as per the Uttarakhand High Court's prior decision. The Supreme Court instructed the District Collector to maintain the existing order during the inquiry, ensuring all stakeholders are heard in the process, including key figures like the BKTC and Rohit Giri.

In a move to expedite final adjudication, the High Court has been asked to defer the hearing and focus on reaching a conclusive decision once the District Collector's findings are reviewed. This development stems from alleged mismanagement and ongoing criminal allegations involving temple authorities.

(With inputs from agencies.)