PANAJI
Against the backdrop of Shirgao temple stampede, which claimed six lives and injured over 80 people, the Goa government is once again considering amendment to the Devasthan Regulation 1933, in the larger interest of citizens and ensuring any move does not hurt the religious sentiments and flare law and order situation.
The fact-finding committee, constituted by the State government to investigate the stampede that took place during the Shree Devi Lairai Zatra at Shirgao, last weekend, has deliberated on the issue and is of considerable view that the Devasthan Regulations need to be amended to make State government as party to the functioning of the temple committees.
Highly placed sources confirmed that the fact-finding committee is expected to recommend to the State government for an immediate need to amend the regulations to have a standard procedure for conduct of festivities and have a strict government control on conduct of the festivities, etc. “The issue was discussed by the fact-finding committee in detail,” sources said.
Taking note of a series of instances of rising conflicts between Mazanias (Mahajans) and other community members or villagers over temple rights, resulting in disturbing peace and causing law and order situations, the Government in January, 2023, proposed before the Goa Legislative Assembly its plan to amend the regulations.
However, the government held back the proposal, stating that any amendment to Article 70 of the Regulations may lead to any unwarranted interference thereby hurting the religious sentiments of devotees and also leading to law and order situation.
The Revenue department had proposed to amend the Article 70 of the Regulation to empower the Mamlatdar or Administrator to conduct the festivities with the assistance of Mahajans, in case the managing committee fails to do so for any reason. The amendment was also to grant security provision that is immune to the Administrator of Devasthan from being sued specially during discharging the duties.
It also proposed to register all those devasthans which are established prior to 40 years.
The Assurance Committee of the Goa Legislative Assembly had also recommended to the State government to amend the Devasthan Regulation 1933 taking all the stakeholders into confidence and ensuring that the changes would be in the interest of the majority.
