Removal of managing committee of Thakurdwara Narsingh ji Maharaj Mandir Bani

HC summons record from DC Kathua

17/03/2024

Jammu, Mar 16: In a significant order, Justice Sanjeev Kumar of High Court of Jammu & Kas-hmir and Ladakh (Jammu Wing) has directed the summoning of the Record from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua with regard to the Order No. DCK/MISC/ 2023-24/103638 dated 30 .1.2024 whereby Deputy Commissioner, Kathua su-perseded and removed the Management Committee/ Trustees of the Thaku-rdwara Narsingh Ji Mah-araj Mandir, Bani and constituted a new committee for the temple under the C-hairmanship of SDM, Bani.
These directions were passed by Justice Sanjeev Kumar in a Writ Petition filed by Ravinder Kumar, Kaka Ram, Rakesh Kumar, Rajinder Singh, Lekh Raj & Ajab Singh all residents of Bani, District Kathua challenging the aforementioned Order dated 30.1. 2024 whereby the petitioners were removed as Trustees/Members of the Management Committee of the Thakurdwara Narsingh Ji Maharaj, Bani. After hearing Advocate A. M. Malik appearing for the petitioners, Adv-ocates S.S. Ahmed and Supriya Chouhan appearing for Lekh Raj Padha (Pujari), Adv. Ankur Sharma for Caveator Pranav Sharma & Adv. Varender Dev Singh appearing vice Senior AAG Monika Kohli representing Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, SDM Bani and Revenue Department; Justice Sanjeev Kumar further directed that subject to objections and till next date before the Bench, the impugned order dated 30. 1.2024 shall remain subject to outcome of the interim application.
Advocate A.M. Malik appearing for the petitioners vehemently argued that the impugned order dated 30.1.2024 was issued by Deputy Commissioner, Kathua without hearing the petitioners on the false/frivolous complaints lodged by Caveator Pranav Sharma S/o Ashok Kumar Sharma R/o Village Shahpur Kandi, Tehsil Dharkalan, District Pathankot (Punjab) pres-ently Ward No. 5, Bani, who himself is the encr-oacher of the temple land & has also encroached water body at Bani & the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua on the recommendations of SDM Bani issued exparte order thereby removing the petitioners from the Management Committee of Thakurdwara Narsingh Ji Maharaj Mandir, Bani.
Advocate A. M. Malik further submitted that it is unfortunate that a resident of Punjab claiming himself to be a social activist indulged in the affairs of a historic temple of Bani and the SDM Bani entertained his complaints and recommended the supersession of the existing management committee, thereby, violating the principles of natural justice.
After hearing both the sides, Justice Sanjeev Kumar directed the summoning of the Records from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua and further directed that till next date before the Bench, the impugned order shall remain subject to outcome of the interim application. JNF

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