Temples In Bihar Should Match Cleanliness Of South Indian Temples : Patna High Court

Observing that temples in South India maintain high standards of cleanliness and provide a pleasant experience to devotees, the Patna High Court recently questioned why temples in Bihar cannot be kept equally 'neat', 'clean', and 'green'. A bench of Justice Rajiv Roy made the remark in a matter relating to the constitution of a permanent committee for Shri Baba Kusheshwar Nath Temple, Rampur (Kusheshwarasthan Darbhanga). In its 6-page order, the single judge directed the Bihar State Religious Trust Board to incorporate specific conditions to ensure both financial transparency and hygiene standards in temples across the State. While highlighting the conditions prevalent in temples across Bihar and comparing the same with that of South Indian temples, the Court noted: "Anyone visiting the temples there (South India) can vouch that it remains spotless inasmuch as when one puts off his/her shoes/slippers there, he/she do not have to move on the dirty water flowing there or on the floor filled with flowers, leaves and the plastics". Against this backdrop, asking pointedly why state temples can't meet similar standards, the Court observed that cleanliness and greenery around temples enhance devotees' experiences and should be part of the management's duties. Furthermore, the single judge suggested that saplings must be planted and benches installed where space permits for visitors' convenience. In this regard, the Court referred to the Bihar Regimental Centre, Danapur temple as the 'finest example' of a clean and green temple and directed that Shri Baba Kusheshwar Nath Temple be also developed now that a permanent Committee has been formed. The court is essentially dealing with a contempt application regarding the constitution of a managing trust committee for Darbhanga Temple. Taking note of the show cause filed on behalf of the newly appointed President of the Bihar State Religious Trust Board, the Court appreciated his efforts in complying with previous directions. The Court specifically noted that the President had taken all possible steps to comply with the order within a fortnight of assuming charge. During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel submitted that the current guidelines lacked clarity on financial transactions, which often became the root cause of the disputes in the committee. The Court then noted the points put forward by the counsel for the petitioner regarding the betterment of the temple and maintaining transparency and found them to be 'justified'. Thus, the Court directs that amongst the instructions/conditions that finds incorporated while constituting the permanent committee, from next time 'the Board', should incorporate following conditions also: permanent/immovable fixation of the donation boxes; the locks of donation boxes to be sealed and to be opened periodically always in the presence of the office bearers; the Bank Account details of the temple alongwith the Bank Account Statement be made available to 'the Board' every three months; the temple Committee shall be maintaining a paginated register where every minutes be incorporated and is further made available to 'the Board' and/or when it goes for inspection; the Committee must ensure a neat and clean beside green environment in and around the temple. The Court further directed the Board to issue a corrigendum to the Shri Baba Kusheshwar Nath Temple Committee instructing them to follow the newly incorporated guidelines. The Board has also been asked to file an affidavit before the next date of hearing (August 8) detailing the actions taken and annexing the corrigendum issued.

Temples In Bihar Should Match Cleanliness Of South Indian Temples : Patna High Court

Sparsh Upadhyay

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