"Explore Possibility Of Having A Uniform Legislation Governing The Places Of Worship": Jammu & Kashmir High Court To UT Admin

The Bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Sanjay Dhar also sought a report from Deputy Commissioner Baramulla as to whether any land of the temple has been encroached upon and is in unauthorized possession of any third party.

The Court was hearing a plea filed with regard to the management and preservation of the property of a temple in terms of provisions of Jammu & Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation and Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997.

The petitioner before the Court alleged that he has been looking after the affairs of a temple at Gulmarg belonging to Shri Jagat Amba Sharika Chakreshwar Sanstha, Hari Parbat, Srinagar, since long but despite that, it was being encroached upon.

Responding to the allegations, the Advocate General for UT of J&K, D. C. Raina submitted that there are certain other matters which have been file in the public interest and such matters too, relate to the preservation of properties of temples and places of worship.

Therefore, he submitted that the instant matter could be taken up along with pending matters and in the meantime, he may be supplied with the copy of the writ petition.

Directing that a copy of the writ petition be supplied to the Advocate General, the Court said:

"The Advocate General may explore the possibility of having a uniform legislation governing the places of worship."