The Maharashtra government has submitted in the Bombay High Court that the Pandharpur Temples Act was enacted to safeguard the interests of the Vitthal and Rukmini temples due to special circumstances and to relieve devotees from the rapacity of the priestly classes.

As per a report by PTI, the state government in its affidavit filed on August 24 in response to a petition filed by Subramanian Swamy and Jagdish Shetty challenging the provisions of the Act, said it was not violative of the fundamental rights of devotees as alleged in the plea.

“There were special circumstances prevailing in relation to the Pandharpur temples, which occupy a unique position in the state, necessitating action on the part of the government to safeguard the interests of the temples, its properties and endowment, and the multitude of pilgrims so as to relieve them from the rapacity of the priestly classes,” the affidavit stated.

“The Pandharpur temples occupy a unique position in the state having national importance. The temples are considered as public temples open to all persons abiding to different faiths and philosophies and have been found to not be religious denominational institutions,” it said.

It further said that the Act was enacted following complaints of mismanagement of the temples by the priestly classes. The Act does not in any manner impair or curtail the rights of devotees or pilgrims to profess, practice or propagate their religion but was legitimately introduced in the interest of the general public, it added.

The petitioners in their rejoinder said that the provisions of the Pandharpur Temples Act are violative of the fundamental rights of the petitioners, devotees of Lord Vitthal and Goddess Rukmini and Hindus. They said the state cannot perpetually take over the property and administration of a temple and has the power to do so only for a temporary period in case of financial mismanagement.

The court is likely to take up the matter for hearing on September 13.