Indore, Sept 2:
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging that the management committee of the Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain extended preferential treatment to “VIPs” by permitting them exclusive entry into the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) to offer water to the deity, while denying the same opportunity to ordinary devotees.
The Bench comprising Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Binod Kumar Dwivedi held that the petition was not maintainable, observing that the categorisation of visitors as “VIPs” lies purely within the discretion of the District Collector and the Administrator of the Temple Management Committee, and could not be interfered with in writ proceedings.
Petitioner’s Case
The PIL, filed by advocate Darpan Awasthi, argued that:
• The temple, being a public religious institution, is bound by the principles of equality under Article 14 and freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution.
• Allowing only “so-called VIPs” into the Garbhagriha while ordinary devotees are barred from offering water to the deity amounted to arbitrary and discriminatory conduct.
• The petitioner had attempted to obtain information under the Right to Information Act, but the management committee refused to disclose details about the authority granting such permissions.
• Several examples of alleged preferential access were cited, including:
• July 8, 2024: BJP State Organisation In-charge Mahendra Singh, his family, and staff were allowed into the sanctum.
• August 9, 2024: BJP MLA Anil Jain Kaluheda and the president of the BJP Ujjain Sarafa Mandal were permitted entry.
• August 19, 2024: The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, along with his family and staff, was allowed Garbhagriha access.
The plea sought directions to ensure equal access for all devotees, formulation of a transparent policy, and appointment of an independent authority to investigate the alleged preferential treatment.
The Court remarked:
“On a particular day, looking to the status of the person, the Collector shall be the competent authority to treat him as VIP for the purpose of offering water to the deity. There is no permanent list or protocol published by the Managing Committee. Hence, the writ court cannot decide as to who is VIP.”
Further, the Bench held that the petitioner appeared to be “personally aggrieved”, and therefore, the writ petition was not maintainable.
The High Court dismissed the petition, upholding the temple management’s discretion in regulating entry into the Garbhagriha.
Case Title: Darpan Awasthi v. State of Madhya Pradesh (Writ Petition No. 32998/2025)
