PONDA
A district court on Wednesday allowed the injunction application moved by Shri Devi Navdurga Pratishtna (SDNP) prohibiting Shree Navdurga Saunsthan (SNS) from replacing the idol till a final verdict is pronounced.
While the villagers were partially restrained from interfering in the management affairs, festivities and other issues, it was not clear whether villagers would be allowed to celebrate festivals or not, as both parties were awaiting copies of the order.
District Court judge Irshad Aga on Wednesday pronounced the interim orders, with the petitioner's lawyer, Adv Amrut Kansar, and respondent's lawyer, M S Usgaonkar, present for the hearing.
Though SDNP's application of restraining the committee to replace idol went in their favour, and the restraining of villagers in management affair/festivities went in SNS' favour, the main case to declare temples as public will continue. The next hearing will take place on May 7.
SDNP in its suit had initially prayed that temple be declared as public, and that, the idol of the goddess should not be dismantled or replaced.
Speaking to The Goan, Kansar clarified that they have not challenged the Mahajan Act, but have sought rights given under ‘comprimiso’.
It may be recalled that on February 25, the High Court had taken an undertaking from the Mahajans that the idol of Devi Navdurga would not be replaced until the District Court decided on the matter.
“As the temple committee had decided to replace the idol of the goddess, we had put a temporary injunction to restrain them. The Mahajans in their statement had also put a counter claim that villagers are interfering in their management. Hence, both the interim orders were pronounced today,” Kansar said.
“They are prohibited from changing the idol of the goddess as prayed by us in injunction,” Kansar told media persons outside the court.
According to Kansar, till final verdict comes, the temple committee is prohibited from replacing or dismantling the idol.
A large number of villagers from Marcaim were present outside the court. Many were restrained from entering the court by locking the gates, with a large police force present to maintain law and order.
After interim order was pronounced in the court, the villagers staged a procession in the city to express their happiness by beating ‘dhol’ (drums). They first offered coconut to Shree Zareshwar Devasthan, and later visited all the temples on the way to Marcaim.
Speaking to The Goan, SNS president Vallabh Kamat said the villagers will not be allowed to celebrate Navami.
“How they can celebrate it? It will be contempt of court by them. If we want, we can celebrate it,” Kamat said, but added that he was awaiting the court order.
SDNP President Shailendra Panajikar said they were also waiting for the court order to decide on their next action.
