The Delhi High Court has fined a man Rs 1 lakh for including Lord Hanuman as a co-litigant in a plea related to the possession of private land containing a temple dedicated to the deity.
The plea, which was an appeal against a lower court’s rejection of their objection to transferring the land to another party, argued that since the property housed a public temple, it belonged to Lord Hanuman. The appellant acted as his next friend and devotee.
Justice C Hari Shankar dismissed the appeal, describing it as a “rank collusion with an intent to grab” the property. The court ruled that the appellant had colluded with the current possessors of the land to prevent another party from reclaiming possession after a lawsuit and settlement.
The court emphasized that public worship at a private temple does not automatically convert it into a public temple. It further stated that the purpose for which the temple was constructed and dedicated to the deity determines its status.
The court directed the appellant to pay Rs 1 lakh in costs to the other party and clarified that the appellant would be responsible for the entire amount. This decision highlights the importance of distinguishing between private and public temples to prevent the misuse of properties and ensure justice is upheld.
