New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has asked the city police to complete the investigation into the incident of stage collapse during a religious congregation at the Kalkaji temple here in January, in which a woman died, and file action against all those responsible. Action should be taken.
Justice Prathiba M Singh said the Delhi Police has filed a charge sheet in the case against six people, including the organisers, and that permission to organize the event was given by the Mahant (chief priest) of the temple, while the control and management of the Kalkaji Temple Complex is under the jurisdiction of the Court. Was with the administrator appointed by.
The court order came on several petitions on the issue of civic amenities and cleanliness in and around the temple complex.
A 45-year-old woman was killed and 17 people were injured during a "Jagran" (religious ceremony) held at the Mahant complex of the temple. About 1,600 people attended the event.After the incident, an FIR was registered at Kalkaji Police Station.
During the previous hearing, the court was told that the event was organized by Shri Kalkaji Sajja Sevadar Mitra Mandal, and according to the police report, it was given permission by Surendra Nath Avadhoot, who claimed to be the Mahant of the temple.
The court said, "The above mentioned persons against whom the charge sheet has been filed were in fact given permission by the Mahant to organize the event in his premises and had obtained No Objection Certificate through the representative of the Mahant from various authorities for organizing the event." (NOC) were also obtained." In its latest order passed on May 27.
The court ordered, “The court directs the Delhi Police to complete the investigation in relation to the said incident and take necessary steps against all the persons found guilty.The orders passed by this court should also be kept in mind by the authorities concerned."
In the order, the court recorded that Mahant has taken the stand that the Supreme Court has allegedly put a stay on the appointment of the Administrator and hence his remuneration, salaries of office staff, security guards, house-keeping staff etc. are not to be paid. Have done. Making the Office of the Administrator "deactive".
In 2021, Justice Singh had appointed retired high court judge JR Midha as the administrator of the temple to perform its various functions.
The bench said the top court has only ordered maintenance of "status quo" and the stand taken by Mahant is "clearly in line with his own statement" and is also prima facie in violation and disregard of various judicial orders."At present the LD (scholar) administrator has been removed due to non-payment and the daily administration of the temple is no longer being conducted by the LD Administrator. All services have been suspended by the LD Administrator." "saw this.
"In fact, in the opinion of this Court, the status quo order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated March 18, 2024 is also being misinterpreted as barring the appointment of the LD Administrator or allowing the Mahant and Baridar to remove the Administrator in this indirect manner. Can,” the court said.
Saying that the Mahant was adopting a "contradictory stand", the court asked a lawyer, who was appointed as the local commissioner, to make a surprise visit to the temple to ascertain the prevailing situation and also to have a look at the cleanliness and functioning of the temple. Asked to file report. Crowd management, availability of basic amenities like drinking water, clean toilets, unauthorized hawkers and encroachments, collection of hawker charges (hawker charges) etc.The court also asked the "baridars" (priests) to file a reply to the administrator's report.
The High Court had earlier ordered that no "Jagran" or similar program would be organized at the temple without its permission.The next hearing of the case will be in August.
Justice Prathiba M Singh said the Delhi Police has filed a charge sheet in the case against six people, including the organisers, and that permission to organize the event was given by the Mahant (chief priest) of the temple, while the control and management of the Kalkaji Temple Complex is under the jurisdiction of the Court. Was with the administrator appointed by.
The court order came on several petitions on the issue of civic amenities and cleanliness in and around the temple complex.
A 45-year-old woman was killed and 17 people were injured during a "Jagran" (religious ceremony) held at the Mahant complex of the temple. About 1,600 people attended the event.After the incident, an FIR was registered at Kalkaji Police Station.
During the previous hearing, the court was told that the event was organized by Shri Kalkaji Sajja Sevadar Mitra Mandal, and according to the police report, it was given permission by Surendra Nath Avadhoot, who claimed to be the Mahant of the temple.
The court said, "The above mentioned persons against whom the charge sheet has been filed were in fact given permission by the Mahant to organize the event in his premises and had obtained No Objection Certificate through the representative of the Mahant from various authorities for organizing the event." (NOC) were also obtained." In its latest order passed on May 27.
The court ordered, “The court directs the Delhi Police to complete the investigation in relation to the said incident and take necessary steps against all the persons found guilty.The orders passed by this court should also be kept in mind by the authorities concerned."
In the order, the court recorded that Mahant has taken the stand that the Supreme Court has allegedly put a stay on the appointment of the Administrator and hence his remuneration, salaries of office staff, security guards, house-keeping staff etc. are not to be paid. Have done. Making the Office of the Administrator "deactive".
In 2021, Justice Singh had appointed retired high court judge JR Midha as the administrator of the temple to perform its various functions.
The bench said the top court has only ordered maintenance of "status quo" and the stand taken by Mahant is "clearly in line with his own statement" and is also prima facie in violation and disregard of various judicial orders."At present the LD (scholar) administrator has been removed due to non-payment and the daily administration of the temple is no longer being conducted by the LD Administrator. All services have been suspended by the LD Administrator." "saw this.
"In fact, in the opinion of this Court, the status quo order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated March 18, 2024 is also being misinterpreted as barring the appointment of the LD Administrator or allowing the Mahant and Baridar to remove the Administrator in this indirect manner. Can,” the court said.
Saying that the Mahant was adopting a "contradictory stand", the court asked a lawyer, who was appointed as the local commissioner, to make a surprise visit to the temple to ascertain the prevailing situation and also to have a look at the cleanliness and functioning of the temple. Asked to file report. Crowd management, availability of basic amenities like drinking water, clean toilets, unauthorized hawkers and encroachments, collection of hawker charges (hawker charges) etc.The court also asked the "baridars" (priests) to file a reply to the administrator's report.
The High Court had earlier ordered that no "Jagran" or similar program would be organized at the temple without its permission.The next hearing of the case will be in August.
