Home / Crime and Justice / Centuries-Old Haridwar Temple Faces Receivership Dispute in Supreme Court
Centuries-Old Haridwar Temple Faces Receivership Dispute in Supreme Court
16 Aug
Summary
- Sevayat of Maa Chandi Devi temple seeks stay on Uttarakhand HC order
- HC directed Badri Kedar Temple Committee to appoint receiver for shrine
- Petitioner argues HC acted without evidence and complaint
On August 16, 2025, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea filed by the "sevayat" (priest) of the Maa Chandi Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The sevayat, Mahant Bhawani Nandan Giri, is seeking a stay on an order issued by the Uttarakhand High Court in the recent past.
The High Court had directed the Badri Kedar Temple Committee to appoint a receiver to oversee the management of the Maa Chandi Devi temple. However, the petitioner argues that the High Court's decision was arbitrary, illegal, and made without any evidence or complaint against the current management.
The Maa Chandi Devi temple was founded in the 8th century by Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya, and the petitioner's ancestors have been managing the shrine as "sevayats" since then. The petitioner contends that there has never been any issue of mismanagement or misappropriation, and a panel consisting of the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police of Haridwar, appointed by the High Court in 2012, has been diligently overseeing the temple's affairs.
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Uttarakhand government, seeking a response within two weeks. The top court has also stated that any decision taken by the Badri Kedar Temple Committee will be subject to the outcome of the petition filed by the sevayat.
