New Delhi, 03 February (HS): The High Court has issued a notice to Delhi Police on a petition seeking cancellation of FIR registered against Mahant Surendranath in the case of death due to electric shock in Kalkaji temple of Delhi. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna ordered the next hearing of the case on February 11.

During the hearing, Vikas Pahwa, the lawyer appearing on behalf of Kalkaji temple's Mahant Surendranath, told the court that compensation has been given to the families of four people in the case, while efforts are being made to gather information about three people. Pahwa said that the role of the Mahant in the Navratri of 2024 was only financial management for worship and necessary arrangements. Pahwa said that it is written in the memorandum of Kalkaji Temple Society that the daily work of the temple will be done by the Managing Committee and not the petitioner. Permission from all the necessary departments is taken from the Managing Committee.

In fact, on the first day of Navratri, on the intervening night of 2 and 3 October 2024, one person died and six people were injured due to electric current in the rod while installing hydrogen lights during the preparation of Navratri. The High Court had also taken cognizance of the death of a woman during Jagran on 27 January 2024. On September 22, 2021, the High Court appointed retired High Court judge Justice AR Midha as the administration to look after the work of the Kalkaji temple. The court had said that the administrator would take all necessary steps to maintain the safety of the devotees, baridaars and the sanctity of the temple.

To assist the administrator, the court had appointed Manmeet Arora as the local commissioner. The court had directed the administrator to appoint a secretary cum treasurer, who would assist the administrator in his daily work.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar