Sevayat's Supreme Court Plea: Defending Tradition Against Bureaucratic Overreach

The Sevayat of Maa Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar has taken a significant legal step by filing a petition in the Supreme Court. This move seeks to halt an order from the Uttarakhand High Court that tasked the Badri Kedar Temple Committee with overseeing temple management.

In a plea represented by advocate Ashwani Dubey, Mahant Bhawani Nandan Giri criticized the high court's decision as arbitrary, made without evidence, and a breach of natural justice. The issue arose from a case involving the temple head priest and allegations of complete mismanagement and potential misappropriation.

The petitioner emphasized a lack of complaints against current governance involving local authorities, raising concerns over the high court's decision-making process. The plea will be reviewed by the Supreme Court in an upcoming hearing, reflecting ongoing tensions over traditional versus administrative control.

(With inputs from agencies.)