Govt. should not interfere in religious rights ! – Pandit Varkhedkar

There should be many devout Hindus like Varkhedkar who is aware about religious rights !

Pandharpur (Maharashtra) : A petition has been filed by Pundit Bheemacharya Balacharya Varkhedkar in Mumbai High Court demanding that the Government should not interfere in matters related to the ritualistic worship of the idols in Sri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple and other religious rights of Hindus. The petition has been admitted by Mumbai High Court. Notices have been issued to the defendants viz. State Government to Sri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple Committee and Solapur District Superintendent of Police for pleading their side. In a notice published by Pt. Varkhedkar, it is said that followers of every religion have freedom to perform religious rituals as prescribed in their Dharma, faith and traditions in terms of the Indian Constitution. The Government cannot interfere in such right. This right was acknowledged by the senior Judge of Civil Court, Solapur and he had passed a verdict in favour of Balacharya Varkhedkar on 17th January 1981. After demise of Varkhedkar, the other Court had quashed this verdict. A petition was filed by Pt. Bheemacharya Varkhedkar as a representative of late Balacharya Varkhedkar against the Court’s decision. That petition and review appeal was dismissed by the Court; therefore, Pt. Varkhedkar has now filed this petition which was admitted by Judge B R. Gawai on 17th March 2011 and a ‘show cause’ notice has been issued as to that why the defendants should not be issued immediate order. The defendants have been given time limit of 8 weeks to file their reply.

Pt. Varkhedkar said in this context, “The Government cannot take over management of any place of worship directly or indirectly or through its appointed committees in terms of the provision of Indian Constitution. For the past 20 years, Maharashtra Government has taken over control of Sri Vitthal Temple in Pandharpur through its appointed committee and interfered in the religious rights. This act of the State Government is un-Constitutional.”   

Source: Dainik Sanatan Prabhat