Himachal Pradesh HC stays takeover of Raghunathji temple

The Himachal Pradesh High Court today stayed the 'operation and execution' notice issued by the state government to MLA Maheshwar Singh, who is also the chief caretaker ofRaghunathji temple regarding its takeover.
Hearing a PIL filed by Singh, the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) chief, and Danvender Singh, a division bench of justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Chander Bhusan Barowalia also made it clear that in the interim, no further action to take over thetemple shall be undertaken.
The government had issued the notification in this regard on July 26 and asked Singh to hand over the temple properties, temporary and permanent fixtures, structures and devices as well as stock, stores and cash including cashbooks etc. To the chairman ofRaghunath Temple Trust, Sultanpur, Kullu within a week.

The PIL was subsequently filed where the petitioners claimed that the temple was a private property and was in the ownership and possession of Singh and did not fall within the ambit of the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984.
They alleged thatthe notification was "politically motivated" and the proceedings undertaken behind their back and sought it to be quashed.
The next date of hearing in the matter is August 11.