THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
The legal battle over the management of the Bodgeshwar Devasthan in Mapusa has escalated, with the managing committee now moving the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court at Goa’s order quashing its election.
The General Body of the temple’s Mahajans has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the High Court verdict which cancelled the February 2025 election to the temple’s managing committee, citing alleged irregularities in the enrolment of 254 members.
In its order passed a few days ago, the High Court had not only set aside the election but also directed that fresh elections be conducted within three months. It further directed the State government to appoint an administrator to oversee the temple’s affairs until a new managing committee takes charge.
The dispute centres on the alleged illegal enrolment of 254 members ahead of the February 2025 election. The contentious membership registrations had raised questions over the fairness and legality of the electoral process and, consequently, the validity of the managing committee elected through it.
The High Court’s decision to annul the election and order a fresh electoral exercise had dealt a major setback to the existing managing committee, which has now decided to challenge the verdict before the apex court.
With the filing of the SLP, the dispute has entered another round of legal proceedings, leaving the future of the temple’s management and the proposed fresh elections under a cloud.
