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Possession of Chandi Mata Mandir challenged in HC

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has issued a notice after the priest of the Chandi Mata Mandir, Rajesh Giri, moved the HC and challenged the possession of the temple taken over by the Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board during the lockdown period.

An application was moved in the case, which has been doing the rounds since 2019, seeking to quash amendments in the Haryana Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Act (HSMMDSA).

The amended Act has given unlimited powers to the administration to take over any temple or shrine, within Panchkula district by issuing a simple notification.

It was pleaded to take action against the respondents who have taken over the possession of the temple during the lockdown period. The matter will come up for hearing on June 3.

It was argued that without any warrant of possession and only on the basis of an administrative letter issued by the DC, the lock of the temple was broken. It was argued that the authorities acted against the directions of the ministry of home affairs, which had closed down all the temples amid the coronavirus pandemic. But, despite that, the officials violated the instructions and took over the possession of the temple, which itself amounts to violation of instructions issued by the Union government.

Chandi Mata Mandir had moved the high court in November 2019, challenging the Haryana Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Act (HSMMDSA), 1991, which was later amended on July 8, 2010, praying to quash the Act as it was illegal with malafide intention to acquire any temple in Panchkula district. It was argued that the amended Act was giving unlimited powers to the administration to take over any temple or shrine within the district of Panchkula by issuing a simple notification, which should be quashed.

It was contested earlier that the apprehension of petitioners that the powers given after the amendment of the Act will be misused, has come true through the notification dated January 4, 2018 in which Shri Chandi Mata Temple has been brought under the umbrella unit of the Haryana Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Act, 1991, including the petitioners’ temple.

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