(Arun Mishra and Mohan M. Shantanagoudar, JJ.)
Sarika __________________________________________ Petitioner
v.
Administrator, Mahakaleshwar Mandir Committee, Ujjain (MP) & Ors. ______________________________________________ Respondent(s)
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 15459/2017, decided on November 30, 2017
(and IA No. 63079/2017-Clarification/Direction and IA No. 77439/2017-Exemption From Filing O.T. and IA No. 104001/2017-Exemption From Filing O.T. and IA No. 104003/2017-Permission to File Application For Direction and IA No. 105235/2017-Exemption From Filing O.T. and IA No. 108465/2017-Exemption From Filing O.T.)
The Order of the court was delivered by
Order
1. We are concerned, and so express our anguish, as to the way in which the orders which have been passed so far in the matter are being mis-represented in media and otherwise. We have not passed any interim direction with regard to the manner in which the religious ceremonies have to be performed in the Temple at Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain. This Court has not passed any order whatsoever that, during the Bhasma Aarti, what rituals can, or what rituals can not be, performed, and neither it is the job of this Court to interfere in such rituals. This Court has not passed any order in this regard. We are concerned in the petition about the protection of the lingam and how it can be done. For this purpose, this Court has appointed a Committee of Experts of G.S.I. as well as the A.S.I., and they have submitted their reports. They are yet to be finally considered by this Court.
2. A notice issued by the Managing Committee on Board has been placed before us today, indicating that this Court has directed that how much water has to be offered on the lingam by the devotees or about the quantity of Panchamrit etc. This Court had issued no such direction. In fact, it appears that the Committee itself has taken various decisions and they are being implemented. The Notice Board which has been put by the Managing Committee of the Temple should be removed forthwith i.e. by today itself, and it is open to the Committee to put it on the Notice Board as per its resolutions, if any. In case any wrong or misleading reporting is made by the media, in any form, at the instance of any person about the order passed by this Court, the person so responsible for such wrong reporting, misrepresentation about the order shall be liable to be dealt with in accordance with law. It is regrettable that there has been wrong reporting at somebody’s instance. We caution the parties before us that they should not indulge in any such wrong reporting, in any manner whatsoever, and if it is found that any wrong reporting is made, the same shall be viewed seriously, and the person responsible for it shall be dealt with in accordance with law.
3. List the matter for further hearing on 4th December, 2017.
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