Supreme Court overrules Rajasthan High Court’s order in Jaipur’s Baiji Temple case

Supreme Court has waived off the fine of Rs. 1 lakh imposed on Purushottam Bharti and others accused of occupying the Baiji Temple land at Badi Chaupar. 

The bench headed by Judge Kurian Joseph gave this order while dismissing the SLP filed by the legal heir of Banshidhar Sharma. Previously, the High Court had directed the government to take possession of the temple in two months on April 20. Along with this, the court had also imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh on the legal heir Purushottam Bharti and others.

According to the case, the government had entrusted the management of the temple to Banshidhar in 1955. Following which, Banshidhar claimed temple as his ancestral property in 1961. Legal heirs of Banshidhar organised a press conference after the favourable order from SC. On behalf of the petitioners, Advocate Ramrakh Sharma said SC has dismissed the original claim. In such a situation, if government has to vacate the temple now, then legal process will be implemented for it.