Shri Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. File
| Photograph Credit score: Wikimedia Commons
The Supreme Courtroom on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) didn’t entertain a petition difficult the apply of ‘VIP darshan’ on the famed Shri Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, observing that the courtroom is just not meant to play the position of a gatekeeper on who enters a temple and when.
“Within the presence of Mahakal (the deity), no person is a VIP,” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant addressed advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, the counsel for the petitioner, Darpan Awasthi.
Mr. Jain argued that there must be a uniform coverage, particularly about coming into the garbh-garha (sanctum sanctorum).
“The courtroom is just not the one to determine on this. Let these on the helm of affairs determine. We’re solely about justiciability. Courts can’t begin to determine who ought to be allowed or not and when they need to be allowed or not,” Chief Justice Kant responded.
Mr. Awasthi had challenged a Madhya Pradesh Excessive Courtroom order dismissing his petition in opposition to the preferential therapy given to VIPs to enter the sanctum to supply water to the deity, whereas denying entry to most people.
“The Excessive Courtroom differentiated between residents. An individual enters the sanctum on the order of the Collector,” Mr. Jain submitted.
“Individuals would need to enter as a result of any person else is doing it. Then they may say we need to chant mantras as a part of our proper to talk. All basic rights should be practised contained in the sanctum sanctorum? Please go and make your illustration earlier than the authority involved,” the CJI noticed orally, permitting Mr. Jain to withdraw the petition.
In a separate case, the Bench headed by Chief Justice Kant noticed orally that temples with “restricted authorities intervention for the aim of administration” confirmed an enchancment within the high quality of providers and amenities supplied to pilgrims.
“There at the moment are good amenities from the donations. When the federal government constitutes a committee, we aren’t saying everyone could also be proper; most of them are spending that quantity [from donations] for the welfare of tourists. There are good locations to remain, good roads, main hospitals… All the fundamental facilities are supplied,” Chief Justice Kant remarked.
The oral observations involved a petition linked to the Anjaneya temple, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman, situated at Anjanadri Hills in Karnataka’s Koppal district.
Printed – January 27, 2026 02:30 pm IST
