Provide Basic Facilities To Pilgrims At Maa Chhinnamastike Temple: Jharkhand High Court Issues Directions To District Admin

The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra and Justice Ananda Sen observed, "Several devotees from different parts of the country visit this temple regularly and during festive seasons and on special occasions the visit of pilgrims multiplies by few folds. Many devotees take holy dip in the river Bhairavi and then offer their prayers to the Goddess. As this place is visited by large number of pilgrims from the entire country, it is necessary that the District Administration provides basic facilities to the pilgrims like washrooms, waiting halls, etc.”

The petitioner, Sanjeev Kumar Singh, had prayed for directives to allocate a proper space and construct toilets, changing rooms, and bathrooms on both sides of the river Bhairavi (Bhera) at Rajrappa, Maa Chhinnamastike Temple, and also to construct bathing ghats on both sides of the river.

In their counter affidavit, the respondents had stated that there are sufficient wash toilets (for both genders), waiting rooms, and changing rooms within the queue complex.

However, the petitioner contended that the washrooms are inadequate, lacked proper maintenance, and there were no proper washroom facilities outside the temple complex.

Upon reviewing the photographs, the Court observed that the river Bharavi's ghats on both sides were crude and lacked basic facilities. It issued the following directives to the Department of Tourism, Government of Jharkhand, and the District Administration, Ramgarh, for immediate compliance:

(i) To construct adequate number of permanent proper bathing ghats on both the sides of river Bhairavi;

(ii) Approach road from each of the ghats to the temple should be free from all encroachments and obstructions;

(iii) To construct adequate number of changing rooms near the ghats at appropriate places. Ghats and changing rooms should be properly maintained giving special emphasis to cleanliness and hygiene;

(iv) Both the banks of river Bhairavi should be provided with proper lighting facility;

(v) Toilets and washrooms in the queue complex should be maintained by the respondents;

(vi) Deputy Commissioner, Ramgarh will constitute a team of responsible officers, who will inspect the temple area to find out whether there are sufficient numbers of waiting halls and sufficient number of toilets for all genders. If it is felt that the toilets and washrooms are not adequate, appropriate area should be identified for construction of toilets and washrooms for all genders, but the said toilets should not disturb in any way the temple nor should come in the way of beautification of the temple;

(vii) The respondents also should provide adequate drinking water facility at regular intervals for the pilgrims;

(viii) First-aid medical facility should be made available round the clock near the temple area and during the festive season, mobile outlets should be made available, which should be placed at the river front on both the banks of river Bhairavi;

(ix) To widen the river banks and remove the hindrances, encroachment and obstructions to reach the temple from the Ghats or any other appropriate approach roads and if makeshift shops needs to be removed, they should be removed and the persons displaced should be relocated at proper places;

(x) To take such other or further steps as is conducive to beautify the temple complex and its surroundings including the river front / bank.

With the above directions, the Writ Petition was disposed of.

Case Title: Sanjeev Kumar Singh vs. The State of Jharkhand and Others

Case Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Jha) 37

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