PANAJI
The High Court on Thursday took an undertaking from the Mahajans that the idol of Devi Navdurga will not be replaced for the next 30 days, while also directing the district court to decide in the matter within that time.
Justice KL Wadane also decided to withdraw the interim relief granted earlier, allowing to replace the idol, when Adv Amrut Kansar, counsel of Devi Navdurga Pratishthan, told the court that they have still not been served the notices.
The Court had on Feb 23 granted ex-parte interim relief to the Mahajans while directing them to serve notices, returnable by February 25.
“When ex-parte interim relief is granted, it is the responsibility of the petitioner to get the notices served within time frame, which they did not do,” Adv Kansar said.
As Justice Wadane said he would withdraw the interim relief granted in the case, temple committee’s counsel Adv Subodh Kantak requested the court not to withdraw it and agreed to give an undertaking.
The temple committee has now given an undertaking that it would not replace the idol for 30 days and status quo would be maintained.
The district court of Ponda had earlier passed a similar order, asking the temple committee to maintain status quo, due to which the programme beginning from February 22 had to be cancelled.
The Mahajans had approached the High Court, challenging the district court’s decision. During the hearing on Thursday, the temple committee earlier requested to limit the undertaking only for 15 days.
