Landmark Decision : J&K HC Acts To Protect Neglected Kashmiri Hindu Temples, Shrines

Srinagar – The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh has issued a landmark decision directing the Administration to protect Hindu temples, shrines, and Holy springs left neglected after the mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990.

This ruling follows a significant Court case initiated by Kashmiri Pandits concerned about the state of these religious sites. Delivering a landmark judgement, Justice Sanjeev Kumar has allowed a petition by members of the Kashmiri Pandit community and directed the District Magistrate of North Kashmir Ganderbal District to preserve, protect and maintain two Hindu religious shrines – ‘Asthapan Devraj Bharav’ in Nuner village and ‘Vidhushe’ shrine, and to take requisite steps under the J&K Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint on Distress Sales) Act 1997.

Muslims destroyed the temples

The petitioners had also raised a grievance against unscrupulous elements over the encroachment at the only cremation ground in Ganderbal District for the local Hindu community. The petitioner alleged that Muslim land mafia had encroached on the only graveyard in Ganderbal for the local Hindu community. He said that in 1990, Kashmiri Hindus migrated from the entire Kashmir Valley.

“At that time the Hindus had leased the temples here to the Muslims; but the Muslims destroyed the property of the temple and encroached on the temple land”, the petitioner pointed out to the Court. (This explains the mentality of the Muslims ! – Editor)

Court orders removal of encroachments in eight weeks

The High Court order said, “Without going into the rival claims of the petitioners as well as respondents, the shrines and its properties, suffice to say that the District Magistrate, Ganderbal, in whom the migrant properties stand vested after the commencement of the Act of 1997, shall immediately take over and protect, preserve and manage both shrines and properties attached thereto. He shall also initiate appropriate steps to ensure that all or any kind of encroachment made on the temple properties including the cremation ground is removed within a period of eight weeks from the date that a copy of this order is served upon him”. (In addition, Hindus expect the encroachers to be named and punished severely ! – Editor)

Editors Perspective

• Why does the Court have to intervene in such matters ? Why can’t the Government agencies take cognizance on their own ?
• It is necessary to present this reality, because the Jihadi terrorists attacked thousands of Hindu temples including those in Kashmir, the Hindus had to be displaced from their own land. Therefore these temples remained neglected !