Hindus should offer gratitude to Sri Vitthal for this success !
- Outcome of PIL filed by HJS against corruption
- Appointment of a full-time Chief Officer
- Hindus should not be complacent with this decision but should be alert and see to it that the land in possession of the Government is used for religious activities as well as protected !
Pandharpur : Sri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple Committee (Committee) has reained possession of 121.6 hectares of land, also a full-time Chief Officer has also been appointed to this Committee. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) had filed a PIL against malpractices of this Committee and the corrective action taken now is the outcome of that PIL. ( It is very unfortunate that Hindutva-vadis have to go to Court for justice against Government’s corruption in management of Hindu temples. People should know the problems associated with Government takeove of temple managements. So they should force the Government to release all temples from Government control. – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat )
1. As everyone knows that the management of famous Vitthal-Rukmini Temple at Pandharpur is with the State Government for the past 30 years. HJS held a press conference on 15th June 2013 exposing malpractices and indifference of the Temple Committee. Movement was undertaken against corrupt practices like sale of cattle, not depositing money in banks but storing it in sacks etc.; to expose the irresponsible behavior of the Committee.
2. The then ruling Government did not pay heed to movement undertaken by HJS; therefore, HJS had to finally file PIL in Mumbai High Court against the Government and Temple Committee. It was pointed out that although on paper more than 1200 acres of land was owned by the Temple Committee, the Government had no control over it and it was not put to any profitable use.
3. HJS received strong support of advocates from Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad which is an organization of devout Hindu advocates in this case, as well as the current government.
4. The Committee and the Government had to take action due to the verdict passed by Mumbai High Court. As per the affidavit filed in Court by the Committee, it has taken control of 121.6 hectares of land in the two months. A Government officer has been appointed as a Chief Officer on this Committee. All these years, this officer used to be a part-time officer; but as per order of Mumbai High Court, a full-time Chief Officer has now been appointed.
Steps taken by the Government to implement the Court order as claimed in its affidavit
1. The Court had asked the Government to appoint a full-time officer by 4thOctober. On 7th November, the Government appointed Shri. Shivaji Tryambak Kadwane (Dy. District Collector, Satara) as full-time Chief Officer of the Temple Committee.
2. Decision of the Court was conveyed to District Collectors and Tehsildars from various districts and they were instructed to take urgent steps.
3. As per the Court’s decision, staff of 1 regional/ zonal officer, 2 clerks, 4 Talathis, 1 policeman and 1 surveyor was allotted to the Temple Committee by Solapur District Collector’s office, Land-record office and Police Department.
4. The process of taking possession of this land is being implemented in 3 phases and in first phase, the land, where names of Chief Executive Officer and Committee were put up, has been reclaimed; it includes lands at Vakhari, Anavali, Tungat, Shavate, Pandharpur, Papari, Wadala in Solapur district; Karanja, Tal. Paranda; Dist.Dharashiv, Kutasa, Tal. Akot, Dist. Akola; Deodari, Tal. Barshi- Takali, Dist. Akola; Kavarigud and Kanzara, Tal. Nandgaon, Madhyameshwar Dist. Amaravati and Kothali, Tal. Shirol, Dist. Kolhapur.
5. Many task forces have been appointed and they have been assigned to reclaim lands amounting to 36.51 hectares in Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur Districts; 109.24 hectares land from Solapur and Sangli Districts; 19.18 hectares land from Dharashiv and Akola Districts whereas 11.6 hectares of land at Solapur, Amaravati and Yeotmal Districts respectively, will be reclaimed by the 4 groups.
6. The Chief Officer Kadwane has sought a period of one year from Mumbai High Court for taking over lands where names of either Chief Officer or Committee have not been assigned / changed.
Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat
