Pandharpur Temples Act safeguards interests of two temples, devotees: Maharashtra govt to HC | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government informed the Bombay high court on Thursday that the Pandharpur Temples Act is aimed at safeguarding the interests of the Vitthal and Rukmini temples due to special circumstances and to relieve devotees from the rapacity of the priestly classes.
In an August 24 affidavit in reply to a petition filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and Jagdish Shetty challenging the provisions of the Act, the State denied that the Act was violative of the fundamental rights of devotees.
The petition had challenged the state’s move to perpetually take over the property and administration of a temple.
The act was enacted following complaints of mismanagement of the temples by the priestly classes said the State. Lord Vitthal and Goddess Rukmini are in temples in Pandharpur which is a destination of a pilgrimage on Ashadhi Ekadashi.
The Act does not in any manner impair or curtail the rights of devotees or pilgrims to profess, practice or propagate their religion but was legitimately introduced in the interest of the general public said the State but Swamy’s rejoinder said the provisions of the Act flouted fundamental rights of the petitioners, devotees of Lord Vitthal and Goddess Rukmini and Hindus at large.
Pandharpur Temples Act, 1973, had abolished all hereditary rights and privileges of ministrants and priestly classes for the governance and administration of the Vitthal and Rukmini temples said the petition.
The state said Pandharpur is a revered town and temples there are of national importance.
The state said in the 1960s, there were allegations of mismanagement of the temples and a Commission of Inquiry was set up. In 1970 the commission recommended that the “government abolish all hereditary rights and privileges of ministrants and priestly classes functioning in the temples, acquisition of such rights and privileges and for a legislation that would provide for an effective administration,” the affidavit said.
The Act was challenged by the three priestly classes of the temples and the courts including the Supreme Court l upheld the provisions of the Act.
The HC will hear the matter next on September 13.