Petitioner says state only promoting and developing facilities in Hindu shrines in Guj
A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Gujarat High Court accusing the state government of religious biases and promoting only Hindu temples in the state, while completely ignoring the shrines of other religions.
The petitioner, Mujahid Nafees, through his advocate KR Koshti, pointed out on Wednesday to the division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice VM Pancholi, that the state government had formed the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Board in July 1995 to promote and develop religious sites in the state. However, since its formation, the board has not included a single shrine of any other religion apart from Hinduism.
It is the contention of the petitioner that initially the board had declared the religious shrines of Ambaji, Dakor, Girnar, Palithana, Somnath, and Dwarka as 'pavitra yatradhams'. Although the list of 'pavitra yatradhams' has grown exponentially over the years to around 358, it does not include even a single sites of other religions.
Nafees has also argued in his petition that the formation and subsequent functioning of the board is illegal and in violation of the Constitution, and therefore, it should be scrapped. He has also submitted to the court that the action of the state government in selecting only shrines of a particular religion for its promotion is arbitrary, unconstitutional, and also discriminatory.
He further argued that even if it is assumed for the sake of argument that the state can promote and maintain religious spots of a particular religion, the expenditure incurred on these sites is not as per the rules and regulations of the board. He has submitted, that in many shrines, day-to-day maintenance such as electricity bills are taken care of by the board, whereas rules provide for only development of facilities for devotees.
The petitioner has also contended that the state government being a secular entity is not expected to promote religious sites of only one particular community or religion and taxpayers' money should not be spent for just the shrines of one religion. The petitioner has requested the court to intervene in the matter and direct the government not to resort to such biased promotion of religious shrines of one religion and adopt an inclusive approach. Also, the petitioner has requested that the action of the board in excluding the religious sites of religions apart from Hinduism as illegal and unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, the division bench has directed the advocate appearing for the state government to take instructions in the matter and respond to the contentions leveled by the petitioner.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST?
- Petitioner claims, initially the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Board had declared the religious shrines of Ambaji, Dakor, Girnar, Palithana, Somnath, and Dwarka as ‘pavitra yatradhams’.
- Although the list of ‘pavitra yatradhams’ has grown exponentially over the years to around 358, it does not include even a single sites of other religions.
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