The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has ordered the restoration of assets worth Rs 400 crore to the Raghunath Temple in Srinagar. This judgment came as a win for the preservation of religious heritage, comes after years of legal battles over the temple’s land, which has been unlawfully occupied.
In its ruling, the High Court has nullified all fraudulent land transfers and mutations related to the temple’s property. A total of 160 kanals of land, located in Bagat-e-Barzulla (Bulbul Bagh) has been ordered to be restored to the Raghunath Temple.
The court has directed the immediate takeover of 140 kanals of this land by the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar. Previously, the land under the illegal occupation of Senior Advocate and former President of the J&K Bar Association, Mian Qayoom, had been used to settle over 25 houses, a self-constructed mosque, and a 15-flat building – all of which are set to be demolished as per the court’’s orders.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice M.A. Chowdhary, has laid out strict guidelines for the management of the temple and its properties. The Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar has been directed to take immediate control of the temple’s land, either directly or through a committee of officers.
The court emphasized that the properties should remain in the name of the temple under the district administration’s management, with any future mutations in the name of a Mahant.
The court has also mandated that the profits generated from these properties should be used for the management of the temple and its properties. The Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar has been directed to take immediate control of the temple’s land, either directly or through a committee of officers.
The court emphasized that the properties should remain in the name of the temple under the district administration’s management, with any future mutations in the name of a Mahant.
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