Allahabad HC Junks Priest’s Plea To Receive Devotees' Offerings Made To Naugrah Shivlings In Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor

A bench of Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Prashant Kumar dismissed the plea as it found no grounds to direct the UP Government to allow Giri’s representation made to it. A detailed order is awaited.

Essentially, it was Giri’s case that he has the right to install a donation box and worship in the Navgraha Shivlinga located inside the Kashi Vishwanath temple corridor premises as he has been worshipping the said Shivalingas for many years.

Giri’s claim was made on the ground that though during the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, some part of the Shani Dev temple belonging to him was acquired by the State Government through a sale deed worth about Rs 2 crore 39 lakhs and the Navgrah Shivlings were fixed inside the Corridor, however, he and his family members were granted right to worship the said Shivlings.

It was Giri’s further case that since the said Shivlings were originally under his occupation and the same was worshipped by his family members for many years, therefore, he should be allowed to receive offerings made by devotees of Naugrah Shivling as the same is the only source of bread and butter for petitioners.

Opposing his plea, the State government, as well as the Counsel for the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Trust Vineet Sankalp, argued that the Shani Dev temple is situated outside the Vigraha Corridor and its form is intact and only some Shivalingas from the temple have now been placed inside the corridor, which is maintained by the temple trust, hence, the petitioner cannot be allowed to place his own donation boxes inside the corridor.

Against the backdrop of these submissions, the petition was dismissed.