Petition by HJS regarding malpractices in managing Vitthal-Rukmini temple Trust of Pandharpur

Jyeshtha Shuklapaksha 14, Kaliyug Varsha 5116

Mumbai High Court orders State Government and Vitthal-Rukmini Devasthan Samiti to present their side  

Mumbai : During hearing of the case filed by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) against malpractices in management of Vitthal-Rukmini Devasthan Samiti of Pandharpur, Bench of Mumbai High Court  comprising of Justice Abhay Oak and Justice Chandurkar took serious note of the issue and passed an order on 10th June asking Law & Justice Department, Revenue and Forest Departments of  State Government besides Vitthal-Rukmini Devasthan Samiti to present their contention. Advocate Shri. Veerendra Ichalkaranjikar, the national President of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad pleaded for HJS.

1. Vitthal-Rukmini Devasthan, Pandharpur is under control of Maharashtra Government since 1985. The State Government took over management of this temple under the guise of preventing malpractices and have transparent dealings; but malpractices have continued e.g. incidents like selling cows received by the Trust in donation, keeping donations received from devotees in gunny-bags instead of depositing in bank.

2. The Government has not yet taken over more than 500 hectares of land donated by Sri Vitthal-devotees i.e. more than 1250 sq. acres of land and has not got any income for Devasthan Samiti out of this land in past 29 years. Not even a single sq. foot of land is under control of Devasthan Samiti which indicates corruption by the Government, politicians and Government officers. It is not only social sin but also a sin towards religion to misappropriate and neglect offerings made by Vitthal-devotees.

3. In June 2013, HJS had staged agitation all over Maharashtra; including Pandharpur, to get justice in this issue; written letters to Chief Minister; still the Government had not taken any action ; therefore, HJS finally filed ‘public interest litigation (PIL)’ in Mumbai High Court.

Source : Dainik sanatan Prabhat