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News18
07-07-2025
- News18
Priest Not Landowner, Can't Claim Temple Property: Chhattisgarh High Court
Last Updated: The bench of Justice Bibhu Datta Guru underscored that a pujari is merely a grantee with the limited duty of offering prayers and managing temple rituals. The Chhattisgarh High Court recently observed that a pujari (priest) is not the owner of temple land and cannot claim proprietary rights over it. Court dismissed a writ petition filed by the Shri Vindhyavasini Maa Bilaimata Pujari Parishad Committee challenging the authority of the Vindhyavasini Mandir Trust Samiti to manage the affairs of the temple and its land. The bench of Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, while hearing the matter, underscored that a pujari is merely a grantee with the limited duty of offering prayers and managing temple rituals. 'The law is clear on the distinction that the Pujari is not a Kashtkar Mourushi…He cannot be thus treated as a Bhumiswami," the court said, clarifying the legal distinction between religious service and property ownership. In 2003, an order was issued by the Tahsildar of Dhamtari, who had directed that the petitioner's name be entered into the land records of the temple trust. That order was overturned by the Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue), and the petitioner's subsequent appeals to the Additional Commissioner and the Board of Revenue were also rejected. The petitioner then approached the high court under Article 227 of the Constitution, seeking to quash the Board of Revenue's 2015 order. However, the court observed that the petitioner body was not even a party to the original proceedings before the Board and hence lacked legal standing to maintain the writ. More critically, the court referred to a 1989 judgment by the Civil Judge, Class-II, Dhamtari, which had conclusively declared the Vindhyavasini Mandir Trust Samiti as a duly registered body since 1974, entrusted with managing the temple's affairs. That judgment had attained finality and was never challenged before a higher court. The single judge bench emphasised that temple properties are not ancestral or personal properties of pujaris, and any attempt by a priest to claim ownership is an act of mismanagement. 'If the Pujari claims proprietary rights over the property of the temple, it is an act of mismanagement, and he is not fit to remain in possession or to continue as a Pujari," the court noted. Court concluded that merely possessing a lease or patta does not entitle the petitioner to assert ownership or control over temple assets. The lease granted in 1985 was already subject to the civil court's decision from 1989. Finding no merit in the petitioner's arguments, the high court dismissed the writ petition, noting that the challenge was sans substratum.
New Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
OAS strike brings public services to a halt in Twin City
BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: The sub-registrar office in the state capital wore a rather deserted look on Thursday, with people returning with disappointment writ large on their faces, thanks to the strike by OAS and ORS officers of the state. Pramod Behera, a native of Puri district, arrived for his younger brother's marriage registration but had to return empty-handed. Hundreds of people faced the same fate as the protesting officers refused to work until their demands were met, said notary Subhash Chandra Mahapatra. Advocate Chandan Kumar Mishra put things in perspective. 'More than seven clients of mine had to return today due to the mass leave by OAS and ORS officers. Essential services like marriage registration, name change, Aadhaar corrections, land demarcation, issuance of legal heir certificate and others have been severely affected due to the officers' protest,' he said. It was the same story in neighbouring Cuttack. One of the most affected groups by the strike has been parents and guardians of students. With the admission season in full swing, many are unable to obtain essential documents such as caste, income, residence, and economically weaker section certificates. 'I've been visiting the tehsil office for the past two days to get residence, caste, and income certificates required for my son's college admission. But the dealing assistant asks me to go back, saying the officers are on leave,' said Raghunath Behera, a resident of Julikipada. For the past two days, key administrative offices such as the Board of Revenue, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Central Division, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) have seen little to no activity, with officers on mass leave. Generally, tehsildars performs duty of executive magistrates. Since they are on leave, the persons summoned under section 126 of Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita(BNSS) have to return without availing bail order. Similarly, many people faced problem after being unable to get affidavits done before an executive magistrate, said a city based advocate. The strike, which began on July 1, brought critical public services to a grinding halt across the twin city. From land records and revenue matters to grievance redressal and enforcement duties, the absence of OAS and ORS officers, considered the backbone of grassroots governance, has led to delays and public frustration and anger against the officers.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC directs Khurda collector to dispose of trust plea against eviction within 1 month
Cuttack: Orissa high court on Tuesday directed the Khurda district collector to dispose of within a month a grievance petition filed by a temple trust regarding eviction proceedings from the Khandagiri caves located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Justice S K Panigrahi ordered that "no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner till the disposal of the grievance petition", restraining eviction proceedings initiated by the authorities. The dispute arose after Maa Barabhuja Temple Managing Trust, which oversees worship and welfare activities in the area, submitted a grievance petition to the commissioner-cum-secretary of the general administration (GA) department on Oct 28, 2024, seeking alienation or lease of 0.156 acres of scheduled land across five plots in use by the trust. Despite its cultural and religious significance, eviction notices were served on the trust by the authorities on Nov 8 that year. The Khandagiri caves, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India since 1912, are a heritage site dating back to 2nd century BC and associated with Jainism. However, over the decades, the caves have also become the site of Hindu religious practices. Cave numbers 8 and 9 are used for the worship of Barabhuja Thakurani and Mahavir (Hanuman), while Jangleswar Mahadev is worshipped in another cave. The annual 'Magh Saptami Mela', organised every Feb by the state govt in collaboration with the trust and local organisations, draws thousands of devotees, including monks who stay in the caves. The trust, recognised by the commissioner of endowments, also manages free facilities such as toilets, kitchens and rest areas at the base of the hill. Despite the the Board of Revenue forwarding the trust's petition to the Khurda collector on Dec 6, 2024, no action has been taken, the trust stated in its petition. Taking note of the facts and submissions, Justice Panigrahi disposed of the petition with a directive to the collector to take appropriate action "within one month from the date of production/presentation of a certified copy of this order". The order comes as a temporary relief to the trust and the local religious community, allowing the continuation of their longstanding activities while their claim is under official consideration.
Business Recorder
14-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
KP allocates record Rs547bn under ADP
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has earmarked a record allocation of Rs547billion under the Annual Development Program for Financial Year 2025-26, showing an increase of more than 40 percent as compared to the last fiscal year. Of the total allocation, Rs195 billion are earmarked for settled districts — reflecting a 21 percent increase from the previous year. For the tribal districts, Rs294 billion are proposed to cover both current expenditures and development work, according to the budget documents. The ADP for financial year 2025-26 includes 1342 ongoing and 810 new development schemes. A sum of Rs7,251.442 million has been allocated to complete 46 schemes in the agriculture department including 28 ongoing and 18 new schemes. KP govt to present Rs2trn budget today However, an amount of Rs1,563.961 million has been set aside to complete 31 schemes in the departments of auqaf, hajj, religious & minority affairs, including 18 Ongoing and 13 new projects. Also, a sum of Rs 1,631.997 million has been allocated to complete 31 schemes in Board of Revenue including 21 ongoing and 11 new projects. Likewise, an amount of Rs45,600 million has been allocated to complete four schemes in district ADP. An amount of Rs10,859.223 million has been earmarked to complete 74 schemes in drinking water and sanitation sector including 50 ongoing and 24 new projects. Under the ADP fiscal year 2025-26, a sum of Rs13,513.127 million has been tagged to complete 96 schemes in elementary and secondary education including 67 ongoing and 29 new schemes. An amount of Rs 4,797.802 million has been earmarked to complete 59 schemes of energy and power department including 41 ongoing and 18 new projects. Similarly, a sum of Rs Rs93.261 million has been set aside to complete 5 schemes in the environment department including three ongoing and two new projects. An amount of Rs1,219.705 million has been allocated to complete 24 projects in establishment and administration departments including 15 ongoing and 9 new projects. Also, a sum of Rs248.181 million has been allocated to complete 12 schemes in excise, taxation and narcotics control department, including five ongoing and seven new projects. An amount of Rs338 million has been allocated to complete 4 ongoing projects in the finance department. For the food department, a sum of Rs338.001 million has been earmarked to complete eight projects including 6 ongoing and two new schemes. An amount of Rs4,239.615 million is tagged to complete 62 projects in the forestry department including 33 ongoing and 29 new projects. A huge chunk of Rs27,240.244 million has been allocated to complete 182 projects in the health department including 89 ongoing and 93 new projects. For higher education, Rs6,274.241 has been allocated to complete 63 projects including 49 ongoing and 14 new projects. For the home department, Rs 6,997.224million has been allocated to complete 46 ongoing and 22 new projects. For the housing department, Rs817.463 million has been earmarked to complete 11 ongoing and five news projects. For the industries department, Rs2,853.865 million has been allocated to complete 18 ongoing and 22 new projects. A sum of Rs81 million has been allocated to complete six projects in the information department including four ongoing and two new projects. For the labour department, Rs210.430 million has been allocated to complete three ongoing and 3 new projects. An amount of Rs6,460.661 million has been allocated to complete 42 projects in the Law and Justice Department, including 32 ongoing and 10 new projects. For Livestock & Dairy Development, an amount of Rs4,078.87 million has been set aside to 23 ongoing and 22 new projects. For the Local Government department, a sum of Rs5,978.676 million has been allocated to complete 13 ongoing and 11 new projects. For the Mines & Minerals development, an amount of Rs290.173 million has been allocated to complete five ongoing and eight new projects. For Multi Sectoral Development, Rs 54,279.801 million has been allocated to complete 71 ongoing and 60 new projects. For the Population Welfare department, Rs 646.27 million has been earmarked to complete four ongoing and four new projects. For the Public Private Partnership, Rs250.000million has been allocated to complete one ongoing scheme. Under the ADP 2025-26, for relief & rehabilitation, a sum of Rs 3,200.214 million has been earmarked to complete 26 schemes including 22 ongoing and four new projects. For the roads and infrastructure development, an amount of Rs 53,641.613million has been allocated to complete 583 schemes including 362 ongoing and 221 new projects. For the royalties & cess development, a sum of Rs6,500.84 million has been allocated to complete 11 projects including four ongoing and seven new projects. An amount of Rs1,548.590 has been earmarked to complete 22 schemes in the Science and Information Technology department, including 15 ongoing and seven new projects in the next financial year. For the social welfare department, an amount of Rs1,785.737 has been allocated to complete 32 schemes including 24 ongoing and eight new projects. For the sports department, a sum of Rs8,883 million has been earmarked to complete 51 schemes including 32 ongoing and 19 new projects. For the tourism development, an amount of Rs4,466.126 million has been set aside to complete 60 projects including 37 ongoing and 23 new projects. An amount of Rs1,285.195 million has been allocated to complete 10 schemes in the transport department including five ongoing and five new projects. For urban development, an amount of Rs44 9,345.238 million has been allocated to complete more than 44 projects including 35 ongoing and 9 new projects. For the water sector, an amount of Rs25,105.204 million has been allocated to complete 220 projects including 151 ongoing and 69 new projects in the upcoming fiscal year. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
12-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Sindh CM Murad calls pre-budget meeting on June 13
Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad has called the provincial cabinet's meeting on Friday, June 13, 2025, to discuss the annual budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, as well as supplementary and development expenditures. According to a notification issued by the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department (Cabinet Section), the meeting, will now be held in the Committee Room of the Chief Minister's Secretariat, Karachi. The meeting's agenda includes confirmation of minutes from previous cabinet and finance committee meetings, presentation of the annual and supplementary budgets, and discussion of the Annual Development Program (ADP) 2025-26. Sindh govt to allocate 'substantial budget' for e-taxis, scooters Key agenda items also include deliberation on the Finance Bill and proposed relief measures, with inputs expected from the heads of departments such as the Board of Revenue, Sindh Revenue Board, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control, Local Government, Agriculture, and Irrigation. The Finance Secretary will present the annual and supplementary budgets, while the Chairman of the Planning and Development Board will lead the briefing on the development programme. Sindh govt says will launch new mega projects in upcoming budget All cabinet members, relevant department secretaries, and senior officials have been requested to ensure their presence and come prepared with working papers and presentations, as per the notification signed by Section Officer (Cabinet) Sarang Ali Shaikh. The notification also calls on officials to observe formal dress code and notes that 55 sets of documents must be submitted ahead of the session.
